Service quality gap analysis in private sector bank - a customer perspective

The present study evaluates the customer perceptions of service quality in selected private sector banks. Data was collected from 200 customers of ICICI and CUB using structured questionnaire. Gap analysis and Multi regression were used fro analysis of data. The result shows that the dimension of service quality such as Empathy and Accessibility has more gap, as the customer expectations are high to their perceived service. The result also indicates that Empathy-Reliability-Assurance positively influences the service quality. The study implies that bank should reduce the service gap to deliver superior quality of service to retain existing customers as well as to attract new customers.Service quality, Service Gap, Multi Regression

Probing the role of single defects on the thermodynamics of electric-field induced phase transitions

The kinetics and thermodynamics of first order transitions is universally controlled by defects that act as nucleation sites and pinning centers. Here we demonstrate that defect-domain interactions during polarization reversal processes in ferroelectric materials result in a pronounced fine structure in electromechanical hysteresis loops. Spatially-resolved imaging of a single defect center in multiferroic BiFeO3 thin film is achieved, and the defect size and built-in field are determined self-consistently from the single-point spectroscopic measurements and spatially-resolved images. This methodology is universal and can be applied to other reversible bias-induced transitions including electrochemical reactions.Comment: 34 pages,4 figures, high quality figures are available upon request, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Evidence for a Hard Ionizing Spectrum from a z=6.11 Stellar Population

We present the Magellan/FIRE detection of highly-ionized CIV 1550 and OIII] 1666 in a deep infrared spectrum of the z=6.11 gravitationally lensed low-mass galaxy RXC J2248.7-4431-ID3, which has previously-known Lyman-alpha. No corresponding emission is detected at the expected location of HeII 1640. The upper limit on HeII paired with detection of OIII] and CIV constrains possible ionization scenarios. Production of CIV and OIII] requires ionizing photons of 2.5-3.5 Ryd, but once in that state their multiplet emission is powered by collisional excitation at lower energies (~0.5 Ryd). As a pure recombination line, HeII emission is powered by 4 Ryd ionizing photons. The data therefore require a spectrum with significant power at 3.5 Ryd but a rapid drop toward 4.0 Ryd. This hard spectrum with a steep drop is characteristic of low-metallicity stellar populations, and less consistent with soft AGN excitation, which features more 4 Ryd photons and hence higher HeII flux. The conclusions based on ratios of metal line detections to Helium non-detection are strengthened if the gas metallicity is low. RXJ2248-ID3 adds to the growing handful of reionization-era galaxies with UV emission line ratios distinct from the general z=2-3 population, in a way that suggests hard ionizing spectra that do not necessarily originate in AGN.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication to ApJ

Turbulent Mixing in Clusters of Galaxies

We present a spherically-symmetric, steady-state model of galaxy clusters in which radiative cooling from the hot gas is balanced by heat transport through turbulent mixing. We assume that the gas is in hydrostatic equilibrium, and describe the turbulent heat diffusion by means of a mixing length prescription with a dimensionless parameter alpha_mix. Models with alpha_mix ~ 0.01-0.03 yield reasonably good fits to the observed density and temperature profiles of cooling core clusters. Making the strong simplification that alpha_mix is time-independent and that it is roughly the same in all clusters, the model reproduces remarkably well the observed scalings of X-ray luminosity, gas mass fraction and entropy with temperature. The break in the scaling relations at kT \~ 1-2 keV is explained by the break in the cooling function at around this temperature, and the entropy floor observed in galaxy groups is reproduced naturally.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ

An Accretion-Jet Model for Black Hole Binaries: Interpreting the Spectral and Timing Features of XTE J1118+480

Multi-wavelength observations of the black hole X-ray binary XTE J1118+480 have offered abundant spectral and timing information about the source, and have thus provided serious challenges to theoretical models. We propose a coupled accretion-jet model to interpret the observations. We model the accretion flow as an outer standard thin accretion disk truncated at a transition radius by an inner hot accretion flow. The accretion flow accounts for the observed UV and X-ray emission, but it substantially under-predicts the radio and infrared fluxes, even after we allow for nonthermal electrons in the hot flow. We attribute the latter components to a jet. We model the jet emission by means of the internal shock scenario which is widely employed for gamma-ray bursts. In our accretion-jet model of XTE J1118+480, the jet dominates the radio and infrared emission, the thin disk dominates the UV emission, and the hot flow produces most of the X-ray emission. The optical emission has contributions from all three components: jet, thin disk, and hot flow. The model qualitatively accounts for timing features, such as the intriguing positive and negative time lags between the optical and X-ray emission, and the wavelength-dependent variability amplitude.Comment: 27 pages, 4 figures (one in color); to appear in ApJ in Feb. 200

Study of Neurovascular Island Flap or Resurfacing Thumb Defects

INTRODUCTION: Sensibility is essential to the normal function of the hand; in the thumb it is particularly important because each hand has only one thumb. If sensibility is lost, it can be said that the function of the hand is so impaired that it is as though the hand is “blind”. Since the original work by Moberg (1964) on the sensory function of the fingers, many studies have reported on the treatment of nerve injuries and the evaluation of the sensory function. Dellon (1981) and Wynn Parry and Salter (1976) have aroused the attention of surgeons by reporting that special techniques of sensory re-education can result in improved sensation. However, it remains very difficult to measure sensation in a way which is quantitative, reasonably quick and easy to do, and which is related to function of the hand in real life. AIM OF STUDY: To identify outcome of Neurovascular island flap in our series with reference to: • Etiology, • Age distribution, • Sex distribution, • Anatomical variation, • Procedure and modification to improve the result, • Sensory reorientation in our population and method of improvement, • Two point discrimination in our population and method of improvement, • Donor site disability, • Return of work. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty two patients were operated. Two patients were females and the rest were males. The age of the patients ranged from nine to fifty-five years. Except for the three young patients aged less than 18 years all were industrial injuries. Of these three patients two had accidental electrical injury to thumb terminal phalanx and the other sustained accidental injury with knife. All patients were right handed. Sixteen patients were operated on nondominant hand (i.e. Left hand). Eight patients underwent osteoplastic reconstruction and the rest of the cases were operated for soft tissue loss on thumb. The follow-up period was for every 6 months for all patient for 2 years. RESULTS: Functional improvement was obtained in all 42 patients. The flap transfers provided a blood supply, durable skin cover and protective sensibility. This was reflected in all patients by the colour and texture of their thumbs, and confirmed by the fact that all 42 patients returned to pre injury work. From a clinical point of view the results presented are encouraging, as two-point discrimination was less than 15mm and consistently same in follow up. Experience has shown that useful tactile gnosis is correlated to the finding of 2 PD < 15 millimeters (Moberg 1966), a fact that was reflected in the performance of the pick-up test. The two point discrimination improved to near normal when dorsal branch of digital nerve was transected and sutured to thumb digital nerve(Lee PRS Oct 2006). Increase in 2 PD could be due to factors such as fibrosis from the scar tissue or repetitive minor trauma to the palm with subsequent pedicle compression must have played a part. Sensory reorientation is better after one year of surgery and dominant hands have complete sensory reorientation. Experience has shown that sensibility can be improved by prolonged exercises, such as with the blind learning Braille, and after nerve injury (Dellon, Curtis and Edgerton 1971). Most of the patients in this study returned to work in two months time and actively used their thumb which could be the reason for early sensory reorientation. The dominant hand had good sensory reorientation as this being the hand more frequently used (Krag.C 1975). Differences in sensory reorientation between flap taken from mid and ring finger could not be tested in this study as ring finger flaps were done only in last 6 months. CONCLUSION: • Most common cause is industrial accident • Most commonly involved in the age group between 20 to 40 yrs. • Males most commonly injured.(M:F=40:2) • Right thumb was commonly injured.(R:L=26:16) • Donor finger contracture was avoided by proper post operative splinting. • Preservation of dorsal branch of digital nerve retains sensation at finger tip in the ipsilateral side of donor finger. • Cold intolerance was not seen in any of our patients because of warm climate. • Two point discrimination over the transferred flap is less than 15mm which is necessary for manual work. (Moberg, 1966). • Two point discrimination improved if flap was taken as distally as possible. • Good sensory reorientation was achieved one year after surgery. • Dominant hand regains good sensory reorientation. • If dorsal branch of digital nerve was transected and repaired to thumb digital nerve, sensory reorientation was better and two point discrimination was improved. This is useful when the patient is skilled professional like software engineer, musician. • Appearance of donor finger is acceptable for our patients