Effect of Occupational Stress on Executives' Leadership Styles

In the present investigation an attempt was made to explore the influencing effect of occupational stress on the executive's leadership style. The occupational stress index developed by Shrivastava and Singh (1981) and Managerial Styles developed by McBer & Co. (1980) were administered on a sample of 388 Executives of Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd., Neyveli. The inferential statistical techniques, Chi-Square Test and Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient were applied for determining the effect of occupational stress as an influencer of leadership styles. The correlation analysis suggests that presence of the occupational stressors influences positively the coercieve and authoritative leadership styles and influences negatively the affiliative, democratic, pace-setting and coaching styles. The Chi-Square Test also confirms the presence of association between stressors and leadership styles

Plant Products as Biopesticides: Building On Traditional Knowledge of Vrkshayurveda: Traditional Indian Plant Science

Today there is a global search for alternatives to chemical pesticides and as part of this process there are various efforts to test the use and efficacy of natural products for pest control and crop protection. Our Centre has been involved in exploring the traditional knowledge regarding the use of natural products for pest control and crop protection. As part of this effort, we have looked at the traditional folk practices prevalent among farmers as well as information from classical literature on the subject drawn from Vrkshayurveda (traditional Indian plant science). Following this, we have carried out experiments for standardizing and field testing promising natural products by determining the precise range and kind of pests controlled by them, determining the optimum concentration where they can be effective against pests without being harmful to useful organisms and predators as well as studying their mode of action. Subsequently, we have also developed storage forms of various of these products by using methods based on Ayurveda. Studies on the stability and shelf life of these products are also being carried out through an insect rearing laboratory. Finally, we have also set up village based biopesticides units where a range of these products are being prepared thus providing valuable inputs to sustainable agriculture and a means of livelihood to rural women and farmers

Candida Antarctica As Catalyst For Polycaprolactone Synthesis: Effect Of Temperature And Solvents.

The Effects of temperature on ring-opening bulk polymerizations of ε-caprolactone was studied by using lipase Novozym 435 (immobilized form of lipase B from Candida antarctica), as biocatalyst

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF LEAF EXTRACTS OF HEMIDESMUS INDICUS (L.) R.BR. (ASCLEPIADACEAE).

Objective: A number of Indian medicinal plants have been used for thousands of years in a traditional system of medicine. Hemidesmus indicus is an important member of the Asclepiadaceae family. It is an endemic to the southern Western Ghats, India. The aim of the study was to investigate the free radical scavenging activity of H. indicus. Methods: The aqueous and methanol leaf extracts of H. indicus were assayed for radical scavenging activity, using the stable free radical 2,2-diphenyl- 1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid). Results: The results revealed that the IC50 values of aqueous extract of H. indicus were found to be higher than that of the other solvent extracts. The free radical scavenging activity of the plant extracts may be due to the presence of phytoconstituents. Conclusion: In all the methods, the aqueous extract has exhibited the good scavenging activity and this arises that the plant has a potential antioxidant agent

Cardiovascular and biochemical studies on the effects of thrombin and dabigatran and the interaction with vasopressor molecules

Background: The effect of serine protease thrombin and its directly acting inhibitor dabigatran were evaluated on the heart rate, blood pressure, and phospholipase C (PLC) enzyme activity and the intracellular calcium levels in the platelets.Methods: Heart rate and blood pressure were estimated using electrophysiology equipment.Results: While thrombin was unable to significantly affect the heart rate and blood pressure, the inhibitor dabigatran was able to reduce the heart rate appreciably but its effects on the blood pressure were minimal. The thrombin induced increase in PLC enzyme activity, and intracellular calcium levels were attenuated by dabigatran in the platelets. The posterior pituitary hormone, vasopressin, and the adrenergic agonist noradrenaline were used to stimulate the PLC and calcium levels in platelets.Conclusion: The thrombin inhibitor, dabigatran reduces vascular oxidative stress and inflammation, improves endothelial function, and decreases atherosclerosis in rodents