Vadde Ramakrishna, Pochana Jhansi Rani and Pillutla Ramakrishna Rao
Legume seeds provide one of the most concentrated sources of nutrients rich in fibre and high‐quality protein in the diet. The present work aims to investigate the…
Abstract
Purpose
Legume seeds provide one of the most concentrated sources of nutrients rich in fibre and high‐quality protein in the diet. The present work aims to investigate the hypocholesterolemic effect of germinated Indian bean (Dolichos lablab L. var lignosus) by feeding albino rats with a hypercholesterolemic diet.
Design/methodology/approach
Male albino rats of Wistar strain were divided into five groups (each group consisting of ten rats) according to randomized block design, housed in individual cages and fed with one of the five diets over an eight‐week period. At the end of eight weeks, the body weights were recorded and the rats put down. Samples of blood and liver were collected and used for analysis of liver and plasma cholesterol.
Findings
Supplementation of the diet with dried powder of soaked bean almost brought the plasma cholesterol to 72.5 ± 0.75 from 178 ± 1.85 compared with that of the control (61.5 ± 0.70), although the liver cholesterol was still three times higher compared with the control. The 24h germinated Indian bean cotyledons could effectively counteract the effects of added cholesterol on liver and plasma by their high fibre content coupled with enormous increase in ascorbic acid levels.
Originality/value
Results suggest germination to be a simple biochemical tool to effectively lower the cholesterol levels in liver and plasma by virtue of its higher contents of ascorbic acid and dietary fibre in ischemic heart disease patients.
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V. Ramakrishna, P. Jhansi Rani and P. Ramakrishna Rao
This paper aims to study the changes in anti‐nutritional factors during the germination of the Indian bean and also to carryout an evaluation by subjecting it to different cooking…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the changes in anti‐nutritional factors during the germination of the Indian bean and also to carryout an evaluation by subjecting it to different cooking treatments – boiling, roasting and pressure cooking.
Design/methodology/approach
The healthy Indian bean (Dolichos lablab L.) seeds were soaked for 12 h and allowed to germinate (sprout) at room temperature 27±2○C for a period of 32 h. Seedlings were withdrawn at designated time intervals and used for analysis of anti‐nutritional factors like trypsin inhibitory activity (TIA), phytic acid, polyphenols and tannins of dried and germinated cotyledons. They were also evaluated regarding their changes by subjecting to different cooking treatments – boiling, roasting and pressure cooking.
Findings
The raw dry Indian bean had a very high TIA which decreases progressively to 17 per cent at 32 h germination period. An overall fall in polyphenols of 70 per cent, tannins 46 per cent, phytic acids 36 per cent and phytate phosphorus to 30 per cent was noticed during the 32 h germination period. Maximum reduction was observed in TIA and phytic acids with roasting, while the boiling and pressure cooking decreases the levels of polyphenols and tannins.
Originality/value
The paper proves that germination is a more effective method in reducing TIA, tannins, polyphenols and phytic acid than the various cooking treatments.
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Right to Information (RTI) is a formidable tool in the hands of responsible citizens to fight corruption and ensure transparency and accountability within a participatory…
Abstract
Right to Information (RTI) is a formidable tool in the hands of responsible citizens to fight corruption and ensure transparency and accountability within a participatory democracy. The RTI Act was promulgated in India in October 2005, and has fundamentally changed the power equation between the government and citizens. T.his chapter examines the contribution of the Act, in particular playing a significant role by providing information necessary to combat corruption in India. It is also noted, however, that RTI is not an unmixed-blessing as it is seen how costly it has been for zealous investigative journalists.
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The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the paradoxical and dynamic nature of gender and leadership in India through a critical review of Indian film Mardaani.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the paradoxical and dynamic nature of gender and leadership in India through a critical review of Indian film Mardaani.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper offers a critical review of an Indian film and relates the analysis to the context of gender and leadership in India.
Findings
The review shows that masculine stereotypes of leadership are simultaneously reinforced and shattered in the Indian context, and that despite all the odds, women’s role in organisations is characterised by dynamism and change. The paper situates this review in the broader context of gender, employment and leadership in India and offers a critical analysis.
Research limitations/implications
The analysis has two implications. First, it indicates that women are equally capable of demonstrating worthy leadership. Second, it highlights that being a leader, or “mannish”, in the workplace does not mean that women are not responsible for the domestic and caring duties at home. In fact, female leaders in India continue to do the double shift by struggling to balance their roles in the workplace and their personal lives.
Originality/value
The paper offers an original analysis of a Bollywood film in the context of gender, culture and leadership.
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The study aims to investigate the document selection rationale of library and information science students to satisfy their academic needs.
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to investigate the document selection rationale of library and information science students to satisfy their academic needs.
Design/methodology/approach
The descriptive survey design was used for the study using questionnaire as the data collection instrument. The collected data are analysed by frequency distribution and presented using charts and tables.
Findings
The results of the study reveal the preferences of Library and Information Science (LIS) students and hints what they want from LIS literature. A majority of students prefer books in comparison to journal articles as reading material. The survey revealed a high preference towards books written by authors from national origin than international authors. Similarly, students prefer books published by the national publishers than the international publishers. The findings further suggest that the affiliation of the author is a major factor, as the students prefer books written by authors from central universities more than those written by authors belonging to state universities or authors from industry. Further, students seem to be more impressed with the books written by LIS academics than the books written by practising librarians.
Research limitations/implications
One limitation of the study is that it was conducted in India, taking the case of LIS students from only two universities. To generalise the impact, similar studies should be replicated by taking a larger sample to gain a complete perspective of LIS students.
Practical implications
The findings of the study have both theoretical and practical implications. The theoretical understanding of the behaviour of LIS students will help faculty members to understand the selection rationale of students. The practical aspect of this study is that the findings will help the acquisition librarians to take informed decisions in collection building for LIS collection in their libraries.
Originality/value
Most of the studies available in LIS literature related to reading preferences, study the general aspects such as frequency of library visit, the favourite place of reading, the purpose of library visit, gender-wise distribution of library visit, and time spent in the library. There are very few studies investigating the document selection rationale of LIS students.
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The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that motivate women in India to become self-employed. Further, it demonstrates a systematic application of grounded theory to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that motivate women in India to become self-employed. Further, it demonstrates a systematic application of grounded theory to understand how women entrepreneurs build their ventures’ success in India.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper throws light on the key tenets of grounded theory research and explains its use as a rigorous method for entrepreneurship research. Data were collected through 25 in-depth case studies of women entrepreneurs from diverse geographical, social, economical and industrial sectors in one of the world’s fastest growing emerging markets, namely, India.
Findings
The results of this inductive approach suggest that women-owned ventures’ path to building success is on one hand, based on their ability to recognize opportunities despite their non-business social network enhanced by their innovation capabilities. On the other hand, it is also based on their ability to find some market niches, i.e., entering into markets untapped by traditional men-owned small businesses. The author concludes that the women entrepreneurs’ paths to building competitive advantage in emerging markets manifests a number of features that are distinct from those of the women-owned businesses from developed countries. This study provides a holistic understanding of women entrepreneurs in emerging markets, an under-researched phenomenon by providing a framework to understand how they build their ventures’ success in a competitive environment.
Research limitations/implications
This paper is intended as a critical review of the factors influencing women entrepreneurship in India, thus the inductively developed framework is not tested.
Practical implications
The main message of the paper is that women entrepreneur’s ability to (simultaneously) sell products or offer solutions to niche segments (demand side) and capabilities to optimize resources by being innovative (supply side) facilitates their path to build success for their ventures. The findings of this study provide guidelines for policy makers in emerging markets to incorporate policies such that will enhance women’s entrepreneurship despite the social constraints faced by these women. The author demonstrates that women’s involvement in developing their businesses provides job opportunities and ensures that women are taking an active part in the development of the national economy.
Originality/value
This study fulfills the need to explore entrepreneurship by women, in emerging economies like India. Moreover, it is probably one of the first few studies in the literature that uses empirical evidence from a variety of settings to identify factors that motivate women in India to become self-employed and provides a dynamic framework on how women-owned ventures succeed.
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Renu Jatana and David Crowther
The purpose of this paper is both to argue that CSR has a role to play in the empowerment of women in India and to show that this is actually happening.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is both to argue that CSR has a role to play in the empowerment of women in India and to show that this is actually happening.
Design/methodology/approach
The research is based on reported information from Indian companies.
Findings
The paper makes a link between these two topics which has not been made before.
Practical implications
The paper has a practical implication both for Indian companies and for companies elsewhere in the world in terms of their concern with corporate social responsibility.
Originality/value
The paper's value is in broadening and defining the concept of CSR and its implications.