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No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

This paper examines the determinants of female labor force participation in India, against the backdrop of India having one of the lowest participation rates for women among peer countries. Using extensive Indian household survey data, we model the labor force participation choices of women, conditional on demographic characteristics and education, as well as looking at the influence of state-level labor market flexibility and other state policies. Our main finding is that a number of policy initiatives can help boost female economic participation in the states of India, including increased labor market flexibility, investment in infrastructure, and enhanced social spending.

ABSTRACT.Purpose: To assess the agreement between a Scheimpflug camera (Pentacam) and a combined Placido-optical coherence tomography device (Visante OMNI) in measuring corneal curvature, thickness and elevation values in normal and keratoconic eyes. Methods: Corneal measurements of 110 normal eyes (one eye per subject) and 70 keratoconic eyes were obtained from both devices and compared. Agreement was determined using the Bland-Altman analysis 95% limits of agreement (LoA). Results: The Pentacam measured significantly greater keratometry readings in the flattest (K1) and steepest meridians (K2) in normal and keratoconic eyes. The 95% LoA in normal eyes were À0.32 to 0.59 dioptres (D) (K1) and À0.41 to 0.74 D (K2). In keratoconic eyes, the 95% LoA were À1.35 to 1.92 D (K1) and À1.38 to 1.99 D (K2). The Pentacam recorded significantly higher central corneal thickness (CCT) values in both groups of eyes. The 95% LoA were À4.31 to 39.89 microns (l) and À12.92 to 41.35 l in normal and keratoconic eyes, respectively. Pentacam anterior and posterior corneal elevations were significantly greater in both groups of eyes. The devices demonstrated excellent repeatability and reproducibility for corneal curvature and thickness but not elevation measurements. Conclusions: The Pentacam measured significantly greater corneal curvature, thickness and elevation values compared to the Visante OMNI in normal and keratoconic eyes. The devices agree moderately for anterior corneal elevations in normal eyes and do not appear to be interchangeable for corneal measurements in clinical practice.

The present study investigates the long-run association and direction of causality among economic growth, trade openness and gross capital formation in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) nations. This article applied autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) and vector error correction model to examine the long-run association and casual relationship among the competing variable. The ARDL bound test results indicate long-run relationship among economic growth, trade openness and gross capital formation. Granger causality results reveal unidirectional causality from trade openness to economic growth in India and that Brazil supports trade-led growth hypothesis while bidirectional causality is found between trade openness and economic growth in China supporting feedback hypothesis. In addition, the empirical evidence of unidirectional causality moving from economic growth to trade openness is found in South Africa validating growth-led trade hypothesis. As trade openness is a significant determinant of economic growth in BRICS, the member countries should adopt policies towards trade liberalization to sustain economic growth. Moreover, these emerging markets offer a pool of investment opportunities for the global managers.

This preliminary series demonstrates that the use of the femtosecond laser to perform corneal cuts in a mushroom configuration for deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty is feasible. The mechanical stability and wound healing advantages for stepped corneal wounds should be considered in lamellar surgery.

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The present study examines the regional disparities in social development in India by using social development index (SDI). The study used census-based data of 2011 including 28 states and seven union territories (UTs) of India. The study ends by ranking of states and UTs on the basis of development index consisting of 12 social indicators. This article also compares selected states on the basis of human development index (1981, 1991 and 2001) and SDI (2011) values. In addition, the study finds district-level SDI and ranks the districts of selected states, that is, Kerala, Haryana and Bihar. The findings of the study confirmed the northernsouthern social development divide in India. The empirical findings show that Kerala is the best state among all states in India in terms of social progress. Results of the study confirmed huge disparities at district and states/UTs level in India.