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Agricultural crops play a crucial role in food security and require commensurating environmental conditions, including adequate rainfall to ensure optimum growth. However, in the recent past, a reduction in the agriculture crop yield has been observed due to the deteriorating rainfall pattern. This paper aims to present a novel mathematical model to analyze the impact of rainfall on the growth of agriculture crops, as well as the impact of cloud seeding for promoting the rainfall, in case of less rainfall to ensure the optimum growth of agriculture crops.

The authors formulate a mathematical model assuming that the growth of agriculture crops wholly depends on rainfall. Also, agricultural crops can sustain and give optimal yields at a threshold of rainfall, after which rainfall negatively affects the growth rate of agriculture crops. Further, if the agriculture crops get insufficient rain to grow, the authors assume that cloud seeding agents are introduced in the regional atmosphere in proportion to the density of cloud droplets to increase rainfall.

This research shows that while cloud seeding agents boost crop yield, excessive rainfall poses significant risks on the yield. For any given value of π1 (conversion of cloud droplets into raindrops because of introduced cloud seeding agents), we have identified the threshold value of ϕ (introduction rate of cloud seeding agents into clouds) where crop yield can be maximized.

This model highlights the delicate balance between rainfall and cloud seeding, offering policymakers valuable insights for maximizing agricultural crop yields.

This research provides strategies to mitigate crop loss due to unpredictable rainfall patterns.

The paper aims to develop an efficient data-driven modeling approach for the hydroelastic analysis of a semi-circular pipe conveying fluid with elastic end supports. Besides the structural displacement-dependent unsteady fluid force, the steady one related to structural initial configuration and the variable structural parameters (i.e. the variable support stiffness) are considered in the modeling.

The steady fluid force is treated as a pipe preload, and the elastically supported pipe-fluid model is dealt with as a prestressed hydroelastic system with variable parameters. To avoid repeated numerical simulations caused by parameter variation, structural and hydrodynamic reduced-order models (ROMs) instead of conventional computational structural dynamics (CSD) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solvers are utilized to produce data for the update of the structural, hydrodynamic and hydroelastic state-space equations. Radial basis function neural network (RBFNN), autoregressive with exogenous input (ARX) model as well as proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) algorithm are applied to modeling these two ROMs, and a hybrid framework is proposed to incorporate them.

The proposed approach is validated by comparing its predictions with theoretical solutions. When the steady fluid force is absent, the predictions agree well with the “inextensible theory”. The pipe always loses its stability via out-of-plane divergence first, regardless of the support stiffness. However, when steady fluid force is considered, the pipe remains stable throughout as flow speed increases, consistent with the “extensible theory”. These results not only verify the accuracy of the present modeling method but also indicate that the steady fluid force, rather than the extensibility of the pipe, is the leading factor for the differences between the in- and extensible theories.

The steady fluid force and the variable structural parameters are considered in the data-driven modeling of a hydroelastic system. Since there are no special restrictions on structural configuration, steady flow pattern and variable structural parameters, the proposed approach has strong portability and great potential application for other hydroelastic problems.

Prophylactic characteristics of plain acidophilus milk could be further enhanced with the incorporation of certain probiotic or beneficial organisms. This research undertakes to evaluate the technological and dietetic characteristics of probiotic acidophilus milk containing Bifidobacterium bifidum and Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. shermanii during storage.

The effects of incorporation of Bifidobacterium bifidum NDRI and Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. shermanii MTCC 1371 as microbial additives during the manufacture and storage of acidophilus milk made from skimmed milk at 8±1 °C for seven days were evaluated. Probiotic acidophilus milk was evaluated on the basis of various technological (titratable acidity, volatile acidity, diacetyl and acetoin production and extent of proteolysis) and dietetic (lactic acid content, lactose hydrolyzing activity, antibacterial activity, viable population of lactobacilli, propionibacteria, bifidobacteria) characteristics.

Probiotic acidophilus milk obtained with the conjugated application of Lactobacillus acidophilus R, Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. shermanii MTCC 1371 and Bifidobacterium bifidum NDRI retained its dietetic characteristics up to seven days of storage at 8±1 °C and its consumption may be advantageous over plain acidophilus milk due to its enhanced prophylactic features.

Mineral and vitamin estimation of probiotic acidophilus milk, animal and infant feeding trials must be conducted.

Conjugated application of Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. shermanii MTCC 1371 and Bifidobacterium bifidum NDRI as microbial additives during the manufacture of acidophilus milk may be suggested to enhance its prophylactic features.

Conjugated application of P. freudenreichii subsp. shermanii MTCC 1371 and B. bifidum NDRI as microbial additives with L. acidophilus R during the manufacture of acidophilus milk is suggested to enhance the prophylactic features of plain acidophilus milk. Consumption of probiotic acidophilus milk as a dietary adjunct can be recommended.

Probiotics are known to extend health benefits and therefore may be included during yoghurt manufacture to enhance its prophylactic properties. Different probiotic strains may exhibit diverse biotechnological behaviour in association with yoghurt cultures, therefore interactive behaviour amongst probiotic and yoghurt cultures must be evaluated prior to their commercial application. This paper aims to assess the effect of inclusion of different probiotic cultures on various biotechnological (technological, dietetic and prophylactic) characteristics of yoghurt cultures.

Yoghurt was assessed for technological characteristics based on acidification and flavour production, dietetic characteristics based on proteolytic activity, vitamin synthesis and L (+) lactic acid production and prophylactic characteristics based on β‐galactosidase activity, antibacterial spectrum, viability in product as well as during gastro‐intestinal transit, intestinal colonization, immunomodulation, anti‐carcinogenicity and hypocholesterolemic effect.

Different probiotic cultures exhibited diverse technological, dietetic and prophylactic behaviour in association with yoghurt cultures. Functional properties of traditional yoghurt could be enhanced with the combined introduction of probiotic cultures such as Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium infantis and Lactobacillus acidophilus and the resultant product may be recommended for consumption as a dietary adjunct.

The paper shows that combined introduction of probiotic cultures such as B. bifidum, B. infantis and L. acidophilus, as microbial additives during the manufacture of yoghurt would result in a product with enhanced functional properties.

A large number of research articles have appeared in the literature during the last two decades on the subject of system reliability optimisation, each with a view to providing simple, exact and efficient techniques. Here, an efficient, fast and exact technique is proposed for solving integer‐programming problems that normally arise in optimal reliability design problems. The algorithm presented is superior to any of the earlier methods available so far, being based on functional evaluations and a limited systematic search close to the boundary of resources. Thus it can quickly solve even very large system problems. It can also be effectively used with other operations research problems involving integer‐programming formulations.

The current study aims to analyze the linkage among bank competition, liquidity and loan price in an interconnected bank network system.

The study employs the Lerner index to estimate bank power; Granger non-causality for estimating competition, liquidity and loan price network structure; principal component for developing competition network index, liquidity network index and price network index; and panel VAR and LASSO-VAR for analyzing the dynamics of interactive network effect. Current work considers 33 Indian banks, and the duration of the study is from 2010 to 2020.

Network structures are concentrated during the economic upcycle and dispersed during the economic downcycle. A significant interaction among bank competition, liquidity and loan price networks exists in the Indian banking system.

The study meaningfully contributes to the existing literature by adding new insights concerning the interrelationship between bank competition, loan price and bank liquidity networks. While enhancing competition in the banking system, the regulator should also pay attention toward making liquidity provisions. The interactive network framework provides direction to the regulator to formulate appropriate policies for managing competition and liquidity while ensuring the solvency and stability of the banking system.

The study contributes to the limited literature concerning interactive relationship among bank competition, liquidity and loan price in the Indian banks.

The purpose of this paper is to present a full fourth‐order model of the gravity gradient torque of spacecraft around asteroids by taking into consideration of the inertia integrals of the spacecraft up to the fourth order, which is an improvement of the previous fourth‐order model of the gravity gradient torque.

The fourth‐order gravitational potential of the spacecraft is derived based on Taylor expansion. Then the expression of the gravity gradient torque in terms of gravitational potential derivatives is derived. By using the formulation of the gravitational potential, explicit formulations of the full fourth‐order gravity gradient torque are obtained. Then a numerical simulation is carried out to verify the model.

It is found that the model is more sound and precise than the previous fourth‐order model due to the consideration of higher‐order inertia integrals of the spacecraft. Numerical simulation results show that the motion of the previous fourth‐order model is quite different from the exact motion, while the full fourth‐order model fits the exact motion very well. The full fourth‐order model is precise enough for high‐precision attitude dynamics and control around asteroids.

This high‐precision model is of importance for the future asteroids missions for scientific explorations and near‐Earth objects (NEOs) mitigation.

In comparison with previous models, a gravity gradient torque model around asteroids that is more sound and precise is established. This model is valuable for high‐precision attitude dynamics and control around asteroids.

Purpose. This chapter discusses the challenges and different strategies to increase skill development for the future workforce.

Methodology. Multiple sources on the topic were studied and reviewed in this chapter. The idea of skill and its development is discussed in the literature review.

Findings. Different nations’ governments have promoted human capital development by providing up-skilling and retraining programs to balance supply and demand. Skills gaps need to be brought to the attention of stakeholders, such as governments, businesses, and the educational system. Teachers, employers, and other stakeholders need to develop strategies and action plans to ensure that the skills gaps are appropriately identified and adequately addressed. These initiatives must be developed with input from various stakeholders.

Practical Implications. The research results would inform the curriculum, incorporating skill development processes tailored to various scenarios. These findings would aid business organisations in crafting skill development programs that address identified skill gaps. Challenges in skill development would be taken into account during course development, and relevant teaching–learning materials would be created. Key stakeholders, such as accrediting organisations, employers, and students, should exert more influence on academic institutions to prioritise societal demands for economic development.

Originality/Value. The uniqueness and significance of this chapter lie in its concise summary of the strategies to tackle the hurdles in skill development.

Interconnections among banks are an essential feature of the banking system as it helps in an effective payment system and liquidity management. However, it can be a nightmare during a crisis when these interconnections can act as contagion channels. Therefore, it becomes essentially important to identify good links (non-contagious channels) and bad links (contagious channels).

The article estimated systemic risk using quantile regression through the ΔCoVaR approach. The interconnected phenomenon among banks has been analyzed through Granger causality, and the systemic network properties are evaluated. The authors have developed a fixed effect panel regression model to predict interconnectedness. Profitability-adjusted systemic index is framed to identify good (non-contagious) or bad (contagious) channels. The authors further developed a logit model to find the probability of a link being non-contagious. The study sample includes 36 listed Indian banks for the period 2012 to 2018.

The study indicated interconnections increased drastically during the Indian non-performing asset crisis. The study highlighted that contagion channels are higher than non-contagious channels for the studied periods. Interbank bad distance dominates good distance, highlighting the systemic importance of banking network. It is also found that network characteristics can act as an indicator of a crisis.

The study is the first to differentiate the systemic contagious and non-contagious channels in the interbank network. The uniqueness also lies in developing the normalized systemic index, where systemic risk is adjusted to profitability.

The objective of the present investigation is to evaluate the effect of incorporation of Bifidobacterium bifidum NDRI and Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. shermanii MTCC 1371 along with Leuconostoc acidophilus R on the technological and dietetic behaviour of starter cultures and to assess their suitability for the manufacture of probiotic acidophilus milk for infant feeding.

The paper assesses the effect of incorporation of Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. shermanii MTCC 1371 and Bifidobacterium bifidum NDRI with Lactobacillus acidophilus R on the technological and dietetic characteristics and their suitability for the manufacture of probiotic acidophilus milk.

Based upon the results of technological and dietetic characteristics of starter cultures, conjugated use of Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. shermanii MTCC 1371 and Bifidobacterium bifidum NDRI with Lactobacillus acidophilus R, inoculated at 1 per cent level individually and incubated at 37±1°C for 12 h, is recommended for the manufacture of probiotic acidophilus milk with better nutritional and therapeutic properties. Probiotic acidophilus milk may be recommended for feeding normal as well as lactose‐intolerant infants.

The paper offers an assessment of the suitability of probiotic acidophilus milk for infant feeding.