The study is an attempt to examine the potential impact of entrepreneurial networks on small firm performance with the help of primary data. Dimensions of entrepreneurial networks used in this study are network structure (size, density and centrality) and network types (competitive and supportive). The population of the study consists of small firms of Kamrup a district of Assam. The analysis is done with the help of hierarchical regression model. The results reveal that network density and centrality have a positive impact on firm performance. However competitive and supportive network is not significant. The idea is to understand how small firm performances are important for policy makers, business advisors and other stakeholders to serve the business sector in a better way.

The high incidence of esophageal cancer in Northeast India and the unique ethnic background and dietary habits provide a great opportunity to study the molecular genetics behind esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in this part of the region. We hypothesized that in addition to currently known environmental risk factors for esophageal cancer, genetic and epigenetic factors are also involved in esophageal carcinogenesis in Northeast India. Therefore, in this study, we explored the possible association between the two important G1 cell cycle regulatory genes p16 and p53 and environmental risk factors and risk of esophageal carcinogenesis. A total of 100 newly diagnosed esophageal cancer cases along with equal number of age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched controls were included in this study. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the p16 promoter methylation status. Single-nucleotide polymorphism at codon 72 of p53 gene was assessed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Aberrant methylation of p16 gene was seen in 81% of esophageal cancer cases. Hypermethylation of p16 gene was not found in healthy controls. p53 Pro/Pro genotype was found to be a risk genotype in Northeast India compared with Arg/Pro and Arg/Arg. p53 variant/polymorphism was significantly associated with esophageal cancer risk in the study population under all three genetic models, namely,

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Esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancers in North East India. The molecular mechanisms of esophageal cancer susceptibility in North East India have not been fully understood. There is a need for identification of biomarkers to identify people at risk of esophageal cancer. p16 is an essential G1 cell cycle regulatory gene whose loss of function is associated with carcinogenesis. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine the prevalence of p16 gene methylation in patients with esophageal cancer to assess the feasibility of using gene methylation as a biomarker. A total of 100 newly diagnosed esophageal cancer cases along with equal number of age, sex, and ethnicity-matched controls were included in this study. Methylation-specific PCR was used to determine the p16 methylation status. Aberrant promoter methylation of the p16 gene was detected in 81 of 100 (81%) esophageal cancer cases. Hypermethylation of p16 gene was found to be influenced by lifestyle factors. Betel quid and tobacco chewing habit synergistically with p16 methylation elevated the risk for esophageal cancer development (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 6.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.64-28.81, p = 0.003 for betel quid chewing and adjusted OR = 7.02, 95% CI = 1.87-26.38, p = 0.001 for tobacco chewing). Further, intake of green leafy vegetables and fruits lowered the risk of esophageal cancer (adjusted OR = 0.16, 95 % CI = 0.04-0.58, p = 0.05 for green leafy vegetables and adjusted OR = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.04-0.64, p = 0.01 for fruits). Thus, p16 hypermethylation may aid as a biomarker in identifying habitués at greater risk for esophageal cancer susceptibility in high incidence region of North East India.

Introduction: Globally enteric adenovirus has become the second leading cause of viral diarrhea. Present investigation was undertaken to understand the adenoviral etiology of diarrhea among hospitalized children in Assam, northeast India. Materials and methods: Over a period of two years (2013-2015), 455 faecal samples were collected from hospitalized children aged <5 years with diarrhea from Assam, northeast India for screening of rotavirus antigen. A total of 238 samples were rotavirus antigen negative and are screened for adenovirus antigen by ELISA and followed by PCR. Results: Present investigation revealed enteric adenovirus infection in hospitalized children <5 years to be 10.9% (26/238). Prevalence was higher among infants (16.6%) and females (15.1%). Moreover, severe diarrhea (≥10 times) 14.9% (P=0.047) and restlessness 50% (P=0.002) is significantly higher in enteric adenovirus infected children. Enteric adenovirus infection was observed sporadically throughout the year; however infection was higher during warmer months (17%) than cooler months (7.3%) (P=0.0001). Adenovirus sequence analysis of the hexon gene showed adenovirus F type-41 to be the predominant serotype circulating in the study region. Analysis of the adenovirus fiber protein of the present study confirmed 15 amino acid deletions from the 15 th repeat motif of the shaft region. Conclusions: Present data demonstrated that enteric adenovirus could be considered an important viral etiological agent for acute gastroenteritis among children in northeast India along with other etiology.