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We show how to use a smoothed empirical likelihood approach to conduct efficient semiparametric inference in models characterized as conditional moment equalities when data are collected by variable probability sampling. Results from a simulation experiment suggest that the smoothed empirical likelihood based estimator can estimate the model parameters very well in small to moderately sized stratified samples.

Advances in Econometrics is a series of research volumes first published in 1982 by JAI Press. The authors present an update to the history of the Advances in Econometrics series. The initial history, published in 2012 for the 30th Anniversary Volume, describes key events in the history of the series and provides information about key authors and contributors to Advances in Econometrics. The authors update the original history and discuss significant changes that have occurred since 2012. These changes include the addition of five new Senior Co-Editors, seven new AIE Fellows, an expansion of the AIE conferences throughout the United States and abroad, and the increase in the number of citations for the series from 7,473 in 2012 to over 25,000 by 2022.

Sampling units for the 2013 Methods-of-Payment survey were selected through an approximate stratified two-stage sampling design. To compensate for nonresponse and noncoverage and ensure consistency with external population counts, the observations are weighted through a raking procedure. We apply bootstrap resampling methods to estimate the variance, allowing for randomness from both the sampling design and raking procedure. We find that the variance is smaller when estimated through the bootstrap resampling method than through the naive linearization method, where the latter does not take into account the correlation between the variables used for weighting and the outcome variable of interest.

This study aims to assess the biodiversity of the study area and estimate the carbon stock of two dry deciduous forest ranges of Banka Forest Division, Bihar, India.

The phytosociological analysis was performed and C stock estimation based on volume determination through nondestructive methods was done.

Phytosociological analysis found total 18,888 [14,893 < 10 cm (diameter at breast height) dbh] and 2,855 (1,783 < 10 cm dbh) individuals at Banka and Bounsi range with basal area of 181,035.00 cm² and 32,743.76 cm², respectively. Importance value index was highest for Shorea robusta in both the ranges. Species diversity index and dominance index, 1.89 and 1.017 at Banka and 1.99 and 5.600 at Bounsi indicated the prevalence of biotic pressure. Decreased dbh and tree height resulted in a lowered growing stock volume as 59,140.40 cm³ ha⁻¹ (Banka) and 71,306.37 cm³ ha⁻¹ (Bounsi). Total C stock at Banka and Bounsi range was 51.8 t ha^-1 and 12.56 t ha⁻¹, respectively where the highest C stock is recorded for Shorea robusta in both the ranges (9.8 t ha⁻¹ and 2.54 t ha^-1, respectively). A positive correlation between volume, total biomass and basal area of tree species with C stock was observed. R² value for Banka range was 0.9269 (volume-C stock), 1 (total biomass-C stock) and 0.647 (basal area-C stock). Strong positive correlation was also established at Bounsi range with R² value of 1. Considering the total forest area enumerated, C sequestration potential was about 194.25 t CO₂ (Banka) and 45.9 t CO₂ (Bounsi). The valuation of C stock was therefore US$2,525.25 (Banka) and US$596.70 (Bounsi).

The research found the potentiality of the study area to sequester carbon. However, for future, the degraded areas would require intervention of management strategies for restoration of degraded lands and protection of planted trees to increase the carbon sequestration potential of the area.

Present study is the first attempt to assess the phytosociology and estimate the regulatory services of forest with respect to biomass and carbon stock estimation for the Banka forest division of Bihar.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the key reasons of lack of promotion of Buddhist tourist sites in India and compare the awareness of foreign and Indian tourists towards India as a destination for Buddhist sites vis‐à‐vis other countries such as Japan, Thailand and China.

The paper uses an exploratory research design. Data were collected using structured questionnaires administered to Indian and foreign tourists, interviews of officials in the tourism department and through internet sources.

Findings show a low level of awareness among both Indian and foreign tourists about India as a destination for Buddhist sites as compared to countries such as Japan, Thailand and China. Further, the findings to show a low level of engagement in promoting India as a destination for Buddhist tourism on part of tourist officials.

The paper develops insights into better promotion of Buddhist tourist sites in India.

The paper serves as a stepping stone towards future research on overlooked religious sites and their promotion.

Background: Insurance was discovered many centuries before Christ (BC). In the second and third millennia BC, Chinese and Babylonian traders traded risks. Insurance is now the backbone of the economy, but penetration is low in developing countries. Big data, internet of things (IoT), and InsurTech have recently ushered in the fourth industrial revolution in insurance.

Objective: This study examines the Indian challenges and solutions of using Big Data Analytics (BDA).

methodology: A SLR was used to extract themes/variables related to challenges and solutions in adopting BDA in the Indian insurance sector. Google Scholar was searched for relevant literature using keywords. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to filter the studies.

Findings: This study identified several barriers to BDA adoption in the Indian insurance industry. Policymakers could use the suggestions to improve insurance service delivery.

Practical implication: Insurers can understand the challenges, and accordingly, they can adopt the proposed solution in this study to enhance the insurance penetration in India.

The study aims to highlight the behaviour of one-dimensional and two-dimensional fin models under the natural room conditions, considering the different values of dimensionless Biot number (Bi). The effect of convection and radiation on the heat transfer process has also been demonstrated using the meshless local Petrov–Galerkin (MLPG) approach.

It is true that MLPG method is time-consuming and expensive in terms of man-hours, as it is in the developing stage, but with the advent of computationally fast new-generation computers, there is a big possibility of the development of MLPG software, which will not only reduce the computational time and cost but also enhance the accuracy and precision in the results. Bi values of 0.01 and 0.10 have been taken for the experimental investigation of one-dimensional and two-dimensional rectangular fin models. The numerical simulation results obtained by the analytical method, benchmark numerical method and the MLPG method for both the models have been compared with that of the experimental investigation results for validation and found to be in good agreement. Performance of the fin has also been demonstrated.

The experimental and numerical investigations have been conducted for one-dimensional and two-dimensional linear and nonlinear fin models of rectangular shape. MLPG is used as a potential numerical method. Effect of radiation is also, implemented successfully. Results are found to be in good agreement with analytical solution, when one-dimensional steady problem is solved; however, two-dimensional results obtained by the MLPG method are compared with that of the finite element method and found that the proposed method is as accurate as the established method. It is also found that for higher Bi, the one-dimensional model is not appropriate, as it does not demonstrate the appreciated error; hence, a two-dimensional model is required to predict the performance of a fin. Radiative fin illustrates more heat transfer than the pure convective fin. The performance parameters show that as the Bi increases, the performance of fin decreases because of high thermal resistance.

Though, best of the efforts have been put to showcase the behaviour of one-dimensional and two-dimensional fins under nonlinear conditions, at different Bi values, yet lot more is to be demonstrated. Nonlinearity, in the present paper, is exhibited by using the thermal and material properties as the function of temperature, but can be further demonstrated with their dependency on the area. Additionally, this paper can be made more elaborative by extending the research for transient problems, with different fin profiles. Natural convection model is adopted in the present study but it can also be studied by using forced convection model.

Fins are the most commonly used medium to enhance heat transfer from a hot primary surface. Heat transfer in its natural condition is nonlinear and hence been demonstrated. The outcome is practically viable, as it is applicable at large to the broad areas like automobile, aerospace and electronic and electrical devices.

As per the literature survey, lot of work has been done on fins using different numerical methods; but to the best of authors’ knowledge, this study is first in the area of nonlinear heat transfer of fins using dimensionless Bi by the truly meshfree MLPG method.

The purpose of this study is to improve the coating properties of shellac–epoxidised novolac blends by treatment with melamine formaldehyde resin (MF) at ambient temperature for its use as a coating material.

Epoxidised-novolac resin was synthesised by epoxidation of novolac resin with epichlorohydrin. Novolac resin was synthesised by reaction of phenol with formaldehyde in acidic medium. Shellac was blended with the epoxidised-novolac resin in solution in varying ratios and treated the blends with MF resin in fixed ratio. Coating properties of the treated compositions were studied using a standard procedure. The compositions were characterised with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) spectroscopy.

Treatment of shellac–epoxidised-novolac blends with MF resin improved water and alkali resistance of the blends, besides enhancing gloss. Gloss in all the blends was uniformly increased on treatment with MF resin. Water resistance of the blends tremendously improved after treatment with MF resin. Contact angle of the blends against water increased while decreased against ethylene glycol and dioxane. The compositions were more resistant to polar solvent than non-polar ones, suggesting that the compositions shifted to hydrophobic (lipophilic) nature on treatment with the MF resin.

A specified concentration of MF resin was used in the study. Different concentrations of the MF resin can also be tried for treatment of shellac–epoxidised-novolac blends to see the effect of the resin on the blends.

Treatment of shellac–epoxidised-novolac blend with MF resin improved the coating properties of the blends. The formulation SeNB-64 is the best with high gloss, good impact, scratch hardness and water resistance, and hence can be used as coating material for metal surfaces.

Blending of shellac with epoxidised-novolac resin and treatment of the blends with the MF resin was done for the first time. The formulation SeNB-64 can be used as coating material for metal surfaces.