“Enhancing the Value Proposition of Priority Banking in India” A case study of Kotak Mahindra bank vis-a-vis six other Banks of India

Priority banking is a process of identifying valued customer and providing such customer the additional benefits of the banks. It is a new concept in Indian banking sector and idea behind such type of banking is to provide hassle free services to its first class customers. This paper focuses on the propositions of Kotak Mahindra Bank in terms of priority banking, to study the factors which help this bank to fight against its competitors, and to study the relevance of priority banking of Kotak Mahindra Bank with other banks of the economy. This paper also analyzes the value proposition of Priority Banking of Kotak Mahindra vis-a-vis six other Banks of India by discovering the Priority Banking propositions of Kotak Mahindra Bank vis-à-vis its competitors. The factors (push and pull) which lead customers to invest through a bank and customer satisfaction through bank Services and Investment. Co-relation between Age and safety of Investment and safety of Returns. Key Words: Value proposition, priority banking, competitive advantage, customer satisfaction

MATHEMUSIC – Numbers and Notes A Mathematical Approach To Musical Frequencies

Mathematics and Music, the most sharply contrasted fields of scientific activity which can be found, and yet related, supporting each other, as if to show forth the secret connection which ties together all the activities of our mind [8]. Music theorists sometimes use mathematics to understand music. Mathematics is "the basis of sound" and sound itself "in its musical aspects... exhibits a remarkable array of number properties", simply because nature itself "is amazingly mathematical". In today’s technology, without mathematics it is difficult to imagine anything feasible. In this paper we have discussed the relation between music and mathematics. How piano keys are interrelated with mathematics, frequencies are correlated and discussed.  Frequencies of musical instrument (piano) are analyzed using regression and geometric progression. Comparisons   between both the methods are done in this paper. This paper will also be helpful for music seekers and mathematician to understand easily and practicing of musical instruments. Keywords: Musical notes, Regression analysis, Geometric progression

Comparative analysis of injection clonidine and injection dexmedetomidine added to injection bupivacaine for spinal anaesthesia in lower abdominal surgeries

Background:Efficacy of sub-arachnoid block can be improved by addition of various adjuvants to local anesthetics. Intrathecal administration of clonidine or dexmedetomidine has improved the quality of spinal anesthesia in terms of longer duration of post-operative analgesia with comparatively lesser side effects. In present study we compared the onset and duration of motor and sensory block, hemodynamic effects, post-operative analgesia and adverse effects of clonidine and dexmedetomidine used intrathecally with bupivacaine.Methods: Present study was conducted in 150 patients (ASA class I and II) undergoing lower abdominal surgeries. Patients were randomly divided into three group’s viz. B, C and D. Group B received bupivacaine (12.5 mg), group C received clonidine (30 µg) with bupivacaine and group D received dexmedetomidine (5 µg) with bupivacaine. Volume of administered drug was set at 3ml in all the groups. The onset time to reach peak sensory and motor block level, regression time to sensory and motor block, hemodynamic changes and side effects if any were assessed and recorded.Results: In our study we observed that there was no significant difference in patient demography and duration of surgical procedure. The time to onset of sensory blockage was similar in all the three groups but time to onset of motor block was shorter in group C and D compared to group B. Total duration of sensory and motor block was significantly higher in group D compared to group C and B. The duration of sensory block in group D was 139.58+14.49, in group C it was 122.46+18.55 and in group B it was 100+13.43 minutes. The duration of motor block in group D was 250.40+27.33, in group C it was 229.28+23.68 and in group B it was 175.64+17.41 minutes.Conclusions: It was concluded that though both clonidine and dexmedetomidine prolonged duration of sensory and motor block of Bupivacaine, Dexmedetomidine is better in terms of longer duration of action.

Anterior Mediastinal Mass in a Young Marijuana Smoker: A Rare Case of Small-Cell Lung Cancer

The use of cannabis is embedded within many societies, mostly used by the young and widely perceived to be safe. Increasing concern regarding the potential for cannabis to cause mental health effects has dominated cannabis research, and the potential adverse respiratory effects have received relatively little attention. We report a rare case of 22-year-old man who presented with bilateral neck lymphadenopathy, fatigue, and sore throat without significant medical or family history. The patient had smoked one marijuana joint three times a week for three years but no cigarettes. Chest CT demonstrated a large anterior mediastinal mass compressing the superior vena cava and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. A final diagnosis of small-cell lung cancer was reached. Although rare, a small-cell lung cancer in this patient should alert the physician that cannabis smoking may be a risk factor for lung cancer

High throughput Luminex beads based multiplex assay for identification of six major bacterial pathogens of mastitis in dairy animals

IntroductionBovine mastitis is caused by over 150 different microorganisms. Specific identification and quantification of multiple bacteria in a single milk sample becomes essential for rapid intervention.MethodsIn the present study a Luminex beads based multiplex assay emphasizing on the precise identification of six major bacterial pathogens of mastitis was developed. Assay was developed in two triplex sets, triplex 1 comprised of Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Streptococcus uberis while triplex 2 consisted of Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.ResultsThe analytical sensitivity was 10 6 copies per reaction mixture for all the six bacteria. A 100% analytical specificity was observed for simultaneous detection of these bacteria. Clinical milk samples from 100 bovine quarters were tested for validation.DiscussionThe analytical sensitivity was similar to the findings reported earlier in real time PCR multiplex assay targeting the DNA of the 11 most common bacterial species or groups in mastitis. The analytical specificity of the optimized assay was 100% similar to reported earlier for simultaneous detection of Mycoplasma spp. and for seven entric viruses of humans.The developed assay indicates a concept proof of a rapid, cost effective high throughput diagnostic tool for identification of major bacteria causing mastitis

A joint modeling and exploratory framework for intra-firm collaboration within construction and mining equipment industry

PurposeIn this research, collaboration attributes related to the firm's intrinsic and extrinsic facets at pertinent levels (i.e. enterprise, strategic, operational, and tactical levels) for construction equipment OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) operating in India have been quantified and modeled.Design/methodology/approachFor modeling the intra-firm collaboration at respective organizational levels, relevant attributes have been populated employing literature review followed by subsequent validation from pertinent focus groups. The focus groups comprising professionals working in the construction and mining equipment industry in India aided us in estimating the extent of interdependencies and influences within/amongst collaboration attributes. The collaboration attributes and respective interdependencies/influences are modeled employing the concept of graph theory wherein the individual attributes are represented using vertices and influences/interdependencies are represented using edges. The collaboration indices resulting from the variable permanent matrix have been derived as well.FindingsScenario and subsequent sensitivity analysis are performed. This research discusses the significance and aspects related to various collaborative attributes and the interrelations amongst them. Further, the research also evolves quantitative measures of collaboration indices at enterprise, strategic, tactical and operational levels by employing a graph-theoretic approach (GTA). The authors have also extricated and discussed a number of meaningful implications from both the perspectives of interorganizational relationships (IORs) and the normative theory of organizations using a cross-case analysis of five firms having operations in India.Originality/valueThe research would aid organizations (particularly those belonging to the construction equipment sector) measure the efficacy of collaboration in respective value-chains at strategic, tactical and operational levels. From the theoretical perspective, the integration of the IORs and normative theory of organizations enables looking at the intra-firm collaboration problem from a multi-dimensional standpoint involving activities, performance measures, action initiation, communication, shades of top management, level of activity, etc

A phase 1 trial of SGNâ CD70A in patients with CD70â positive, metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/148406/1/cncr31912.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/148406/2/cncr31912_am.pd

GRFS and CRFS in alternative donor hematopoietic cell transplantation for pediatric patients with acute leukemia.

We report graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-free relapse-free survival (GRFS) (a composite end point of survival without grade III-IV acute GVHD [aGVHD], systemic therapy-requiring chronic GVHD [cGVHD], or relapse) and cGVHD-free relapse-free survival (CRFS) among pediatric patients with acute leukemia (n = 1613) who underwent transplantation with 1 antigen-mismatched (7/8) bone marrow (BM; n = 172) or umbilical cord blood (UCB; n = 1441). Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazards models. To account for multiple testing, P \u3c .01 for the donor/graft variable was considered statistically significant. Clinical characteristics were similar between UCB and 7/8 BM recipients, because most had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (62%), 64% received total body irradiation-based conditioning, and 60% received anti-thymocyte globulin or alemtuzumab. Methotrexate-based GVHD prophylaxis was more common with 7/8 BM (79%) than with UCB (15%), in which mycophenolate mofetil was commonly used. The univariate estimates of GRFS and CRFS were 22% (95% confidence interval [CI], 16-29) and 27% (95% CI, 20-34), respectively, with 7/8 BM and 33% (95% CI, 31-36) and 38% (95% CI, 35-40), respectively, with UCB (P \u3c .001). In multivariate analysis, 7/8 BM vs UCB had similar GRFS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.12; 95% CI, 0.87-1.45; P = .39), CRFS (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.82-1.38; P = .66), overall survival (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.80-1.44; P = .66), and relapse (HR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.03-2.02; P = .03). However, the 7/8 BM group had a significantly higher risk for grade III-IV aGVHD (HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.16-2.48; P = .006) compared with the UCB group. UCB and 7/8 BM groups had similar outcomes, as measured by GRFS and CRFS. However, given the higher risk for grade III-IV aGVHD, UCB might be preferred for patients lacking matched donors. © 2019 American Society of Hematology. All rights reserved