Archives-November 2014

In all developing countries like Benin, medicinal plants were the most widely used especially in rural areas to solve health problems in humans and in animal’s life. But despite this use, all the mysteries of nature were not yet perceived by human. This paper reports the results of the chemical and biological studies of two plants, Khaya senegalensis and Pseudocedrela kotschyi used by farmers in Benin in the treatment of gastro-intestinal diseases in livestock. Throughout the results, we noted in both samples the presence of several secondary metabolites such as saponins, catechic tannins, polyphenols, mucilages, flavonoids, anthocyanins, leuco anthocyanin, reducing compounds, sterols and terpenes. Concerning the extraction yield of metabolites, the binary water-ethanol (50/50) showed the best results compared to each of the two solvents used separately. Concerning the polyphenols content, it varied in the same plant depending of the extraction solvent nature. The test results of the scavenging activity showed a better one with the ethanolic extract of the stem bark of P. kotschyi whereas the stem bark of Khaya senegalensis extracted with semi-ethanol was the most active. Both extracts displayed similar activities (CI50= 4 ?g/ml) more pronounced than that of the reference compound used in this study, the BHA (CI50=4.8 µg/mL). The results of antibacterial activity of the ethanolic and hydroethanolic extracts of trunk bark of P. kotschyi had bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Concerning K. senegalensis, the ethanolic and hydroethanolic extracts showed an interesting antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia.

The objective of this study was to analyze the country-specific attributes that either motivate or determines foreign direct investment (FDI) in a nation. A review of the literature on foreign direct investment revealed specific location attributes that tend to motivate direct investment in a particular location. In order to measure the impact of each of these attributes on foreign direct investment I created a database including each key attribute as a variable and measuring it across countries over a period of five years (2009-2013). The database contains all countries; the primary regions include USA, INDIA as well as a group of “Other” developed and developing nations. Analysis of the countries and variables and their affect on FDI flows. Unfortunately, I found GDP to be the only significant pull factor for U.S. foreign direct investment which indicates that large market size is a major investment determinant for multinational corporations. Other research on an industry-specific basis is necessary to gain a more in-depth analysis of specific variables. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in all over the world in general and in India in particular after the opening up of our market with the adoption of the policies namely globalization, privatization and liberalization has no doubt emerged as one of the most significant source and contributor of external inflow of resources and is one of the most crucial contributors to the capital formation despite their share in the world arena still catching up. When we talk about the term FDI we are talking about a bundle of resources that usually flow into a country including besides capital, production technology, global managerial skills, innovative marketing strategies and access to new markets. A cumulative and an exhaustive study of the overall scenario of FDI in India, FDI in USA in perspective of India investments of FDI in the country, share of top investing countries, sectors attracting highest FDI flows, sector wise technology transfer and approvals. We will also look at the determinants for attracting FDI in the country and also the causes for low flow of FDI and the mechanisms that can be undertaken to make our country attractive enough for investors and vice versa (for USA). This study entirely relies on secondary data collected after a thorough and exhaustive study of various websites, text books, journals, newspapers, magazines and great inputs form various professors and professionals specializing in this area.

This research was aimed at investigating solid particles settling in drilling fluid - Power law fluid in relation to rheological properties of the fluid. Fluid of various densities and rheologies were prepared in the laboratory. Hydroxyl methyl cellulose (HEC) was used in this proportion 5.0, 2.5, 1.5, and 0.5 g/liter to change the rheology of the fluid with a fluid density range from 1.003 to 1.513 g/cm3. The results show that larger particles diameter enhance the particle settling behaviour and increases settling velocities. Also increased fluid density reduces particle settling velocity and increases fluid viscosity. The largest effect on the particle settling is achieved at high fluid viscosity. Therefore, it is recommended that fluids for cutting removal should be designed with a higher consistency index K in order to increase the fluid viscosity and thereby overcome the settling behaviour.

Recently, due to increasing developments in the IT and communication sector, developing countries have improved their economic and social growth to reduce the gap between themselves and developed countries. In these circumstances, electronic commerce as a new field of commerce plays an important role in the advancement of developing countries. Customers in different countries with various cultures behave differently when faced with electronic commerce. Hence, cultural factors of electronic commerce users must be investigated in order to understand their different behaviour. The model of this research is based on Hofstede’s national culture and attempts to explore the effect of national culture covering individualism - collectivism and uncertainty avoidance in increasing the internet shopping adoption rate in Iran. The research method is a combination of both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data are collected via questionnaires from 60 people in libraries and universities in Tehran. Also, the interview has been conducted with 15 people with different interests in online shopping. The collected data are analysed through descriptive statistics. “Pearson” is used to test the hypotheses of the study. The outcomes show that users with low uncertainty avoidance culture carry out online shopping more than users with high uncertainty avoidance culture in Iran. However, there is no significant difference in online shopping according to individualism and collectivism culture in Iran. Furthermore, the interaction between uncertainty avoidance and the individualism-collectivism culture is not significant with regard to online shopping.

Banana pulp and peel were analysed for their major nutrient contents, phytochemical constituents namely phenol and flavanoid, antioxidant and anti-hemolytic activity. The selected variety was Sirumalai banana variety. The result revealed the presence of nutrient constituent comprising moisture (71.12±0.03% for pulp and 6.03±0.05% for peel); ash (06.57±0.07% for pulp and 08.52±0.01% for peel); Carbohydrate (41.82±0.09% for pulp and 25.31±0.04% for peel); protein (07.62±1.02% for pulp and 03.23±0.015% for peel); fat (11.91±0.28% for pulp and 0.986±0.02% for peel) and fiber (22.78±0.12% for pulp and 23.24±0.01% for peel). Phenol content of pulp and peel were found to be 0.98±0.09mg/g and 0.52±0.11mg/g respectively. Flavanoid content of pulp and peel were found to be 29.92±0.24 mg/g and 22.76±0.07 mg/g respectively. Antioxidant activity of the banana variety was analysed by DPPH and hydroxyl scavenging activity. DPPH scavenging percentage of pulp and peel was found to be 81.72±0.06% and 71.95±0.21%. Hydroxyl scavenging percentage of pulp and peel was found to be 70.04±0.13% and 58.98±0.17%. Percentage anti-hemolytic activity of Sirumalai pulp ranged from 31.18±0.01% to 76.22±0.16; peel ranged from 24.31±0.02% to 64.69±0.04% at a concentration of 100-500 mg/ml. The results revealed that banana pulp and peel consist of essential chemical constituents that have good antioxidant and anti-hemolytic activity.

Dalit movement for social justice is not new; this kind of movements began in South India at least, approximately 100 years before that is in North India. This was comparatively late movement but became historical in its nature because, South India’s movement was against dominant of Brahmins, while they were less in population, but in North India it was against a group of dominants as Brahmins, Chhaktriya, Kayasth and Vaisya etc more number than south India. While this established a Historical achievement as a Dalit lady, Mayawati become the first and fourth times chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in India through Dalit movements. The core agenda of these movements was uplifting of Dalit and social justice but after around decay BSP leadership created a new formula to occupy the political power and she named him “Social engineering”. Actually this social engineering was a tactical and conspicuous move adopted by the BSP. This is a very natural question which raised by intellectuals of both sides whether Dalit or Brahmins, because the emergence of Dalit movement was basically established in beginning against Manuvadi (A system in which Dalit is marginalized in all the area of life) and Brahman supremacy. I tried to understand why BSP, which was anti Brahmans from beginning, diverted their approach and agenda. It is pertinent to share that in Uttar Pradesh, BSP missed a golden opportunity to polarize to OBC, a big chunk of population in own political fold.

We are very happy to announce that from 11th November 2014, Dr.K.Selvaraju has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Nanotechnology, Computational and Theoretical Chemistry. Dr.K.Selvaraju currently working as Head, Department of Physics, Kandaswami Kandars College (Govt. Aided), Vellur- 638182, Namakkal, Tamil nadu, India. The appointment of Dr.K.Selvaraju as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal.

We are very happy to announce that from 13th November 2014, Dr. Sachin Balbhimrao has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Commerce. Dr. Sachin Balbhimrao currently working as Full time Faculty in Central University of Karnataka, Department of Commerce, School of Business Studies, Gulbarga. The appointment of Dr. Sachin Balbhimrao as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. Please send any expressions of interest to elixirpublishers@gmail.com.

We are very happy to announce that from 14th November 2014, Dr. Arvind Bijalwan has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Agroforestry, Silviculture, Remote Sensing & GIS. Dr. Arvind Bijalwan currently working as Assistant Professor (HRD scale), Faculty area of Technical Forestry, Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), (Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India, P.O.-357, Nehru Nagar, Bhopal, M.P., India. The appointment of Dr. Arvind Bijalwan as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. Please send any expressions of interest to elixirpublishers@gmail.com.

We are very happy to announce that from 19th November 2014, Dr. Hadi Saeidi has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Finance Management. Dr. Hadi Saeidi currently working as Head, Department of Accounting, Sama university of Shirvan, Iran. The appointment of Dr. Hadi Saeidi as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. Please send any expressions of interest to elixirpublishers@gmail.com.