Human otoacariasis: a common outbreak in rubber growing belt of Karnataka.

Background/Objective: Soft tick in the ear is a very common acute painful and distressing condition in the flowering months of October to March. It’s a common condition in the rubber growing belt of Sullia.The mouthparts of the tick grips firmly the skin of the external auditory canal or the tympanic membrane and sucks blood and swells up. Otoscopy and removal of the tick from the ear can be done in outpatients in adults and difficult in a frightened irritable child.Materials and methods: 312 cases of intra-aural ticks presenting to the opd and casualty which included 131 males and 181 females were included in the study.Results: Out of the 312 cases of intra-aural ticks, 170 cases were treated in the outpatient and 140 cases under short general anesthesia with oto-microscopy.Conclusion: Intra-aural tick infestation is an acute painful condition which needs prompt management by an experienced otolaryngologist. Proper visualization and instrumentation is necessary to avoid complications.

COELACHNE GHATICA NAIK, SP. NOV.

Coelachne ghatiea Naik, a new species of grass is described from Western Ghats, India

Experimental validation of phase space conduits of transition between potential wells

A phase space boundary between transition and non-transition, similar to those observed in chemical reaction dynamics, is shown experimentally in a macroscopic system. We present a validation of the phase space flux across rank one saddles connecting adjacent potential wells and confirm the underlying phase space conduits that mediate the transition. Experimental regions of transition are found to agree with the theory to within 1\%, suggesting the robustness of phase space conduits of transition in a broad array of two or more degree of freedom experimental systems, despite the presence of small dissipation.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Future of Sponge Iron in India and Plant Design Data

The author tries to foresee the future of Sponge Iron Making in India and forecasts that the metallurgical supremacy of Coke Ovens and Blast Furnaces for making iron will be challenged by Sponge Iron Making. During the last 20 years since the Basic Oxygen Furnace broke through the Steel Technology, the size of the vessels has increased from 5 Tons to 400 Tons and it is now the most economical steelmaking process. Nevertheless this will have a new competitor. Large' Sponge Iron Plants, supplying cheaper melting stock to Ultra-High-Powered Electric Arc Furnaces for making steel and shaping by multistrand continuous casting machines will be the order of the day. Pre-reduced pellets will be produced at the iron mines to utilise the fines. Mini-Steel Plants based on Sponge-iron with 20 per cent steel scrap will be dispersed throughout the country, where bulk power will be available from a National Grid fed by giant Thermal Power Stations located in regions where cod is not available. Design Data for a 50 T I day Sponge Iron Plant is given which would form main guide-lines for designers of big size plants

Understanding the role of marketing communications in direct marketing

The standard RFM models used by direct marketers include behavioral variables, but ignore the role of marketing communications. In addition, RFM models allow customer responsiveness to vary across different customers, but not across diiferent time periods. Hence, the authors first extend RFM models by incorporating the effects of marketing communications and temporal heterogeneity. Then, using direct-marketing data from a Dutch charity organization, they calibrate the proposed model, and find that it better explains customer behavior because it includes information on both the past behavior and marketing communications. More specifically, they show that direct mail communication builds goodwill, which, in turn, enhances customer's likelihood to buy. However, cumulative exposure to direct mail creates irritation, and erodes goodwill. The two opposite effects induce a cyclic pattern of goodwill formation, which repeats over four quarters. Next, the authors find that, when they control for these communications effects, the standard result - customer's likelihood to buy increases as shopping frequency increases - reverses. That is, in contrast to the extant literature, customers who donate frequently are less likely to donate in the near future. These findings are not only stable over time, but also replicate across two large data sets. Finally, the authors discuss the need for implementing pulsing strategy to mitigate irritation, and the possibility of practicing one-to-one marketing by using information on customer responsiveness, which can be estimated for each customer via the proposed model

Structural Equation Model for Effectiveness of Technical Managers in Information Technology Industry

In age of technology, the effectiveness of technical manager is keenly sought towards organizational growth and competitive advantage. Technical managers require a special combination of knowledge about science and technology to acquire respect, knowledge about behaviour, and skills to lead. This research presents a unique point of view, backed by empirical data analysis on how five key competencies, other than technology know-how impacts overall effectiveness of technical managers in Information Technology IT industry. A structural equation model (SEM) mines complex interdependencies amongst competency clusters which yield managerial effectiveness directly or indirectly. The survey instruments were employed on 520 technical managers from various technology centric departments across 19 IT organizations. Statistical techniques used include exploratory factor analysis (EFA); confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modelling (SEM). The role of project management, emotional intelligence (EI), domain knowledge, ethical values and business skills besides technical acumen is presented. Research findings are expected to help organizations in selection and development of technical managerial talent, and individuals towards self realization and self development