Does contract farming enhance farm efficiency? A case of wheat growers of Haryana, India.

This study tries to evaluate the returns to contract farming (CF) in the form of farm efficiency for both contract and non-contract wheat growers in Haryana, North India. Applying the data envelopment analysis and endogenous switching regression model on cross-sectional survey data from 754 wheat farmers, it finds that CF adopters are significantly more efficient than non-adopters. Further, it reveals that farmers who adopt CF would reduce their technical efficiency by 16% if they do not participate in it.

Multicriteria decision-making based on distance measures and knowledge measures of Fermatean fuzzy sets.

Fermatean fuzzy sets are more powerful than fuzzy sets, intuitionistic fuzzy sets, and Pythagorean fuzzy sets in handling various problems involving uncertainty. The distance measures in the fuzzy and non-standard fuzzy frameworks have got their applicability in various areas such as pattern analysis, clustering, medical diagnosis, etc. Also, the fuzzy and non-standard fuzzy knowledge measures have played a vital role in computing the criteria weights in the multicriteria decision-making problems.

Comparative analysis of mesothelial invasion by single- and multi-wall carbon nanotubes using computational approach.

This study explored the interactions of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with mesothelial cells. We carried out molecular dynamic simulation studies on the mesothelial cell invasion by single and multi walled carbon nanotubes. In our simulation experiments SWCNTs showed greater binding affinity with membrane in comparison to MWCNTs with similar aspect ratio.

In silico identification of novel protective VSG antigens expressed by Trypanosoma brucei and an effort for designing a highly immunogenic DNA vaccine using IL-12 as adjuvant.

African trypanosomiasis continues to be a major health problem, with more adults dying from this disease world-wide. As the sequence diversity of Trypanosoma brucei is extreme, with VSGs having 15-25% identity with most other VSGs, hence it displays a huge diversity of adaptations and host specificities. Therefore the need for an improved vaccine has become an international priority.

In silico proteomic characterization of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) for the mapping of high affinity antigenic determinants against breast cancer.

Multiple different approaches are being used to activate the immune system against breast cancer. Vaccine therapy in general follows the principle that injections of various substances ultimately result in the presentation of tumor peptides to the patient's immune system. We proposed a potential in silico DNA vaccine against breast cancer by integrating high affinity T cell (MHC-I and MHC-II) and B cell (continuous and discontinuous) epitopes.

In silico designing and optimization of anti-breast cancer antibody mimetic oligopeptide targeting HER-2 in women.

Overexpression of HER-2 is of frequent (20-30%) occurrence in breast cancer. Therapeutic targeting of HER-2 with humanized antibody derived oligopeptide may be a promising approach to the treatment of breast cancer. HER-2 gene is part of a family of genes that play critical roles in regulating transmembrane growth of breast cancer cells.