Diversity Management Using The Diversimilarity Paradigm: A Case Study Of A Major Mid-West Food Retailing And Distribution Corporation

The diversimilarity approach emphasizes managing a diverse work force through an appreciation of cultural and demographic similarities and differences that may stem from such characteristics as gender, age, physical ability, ethnicity, and religion.  This article highlights how a major mid western food distribution corporation with 4000 plus employees applies the diversimilarity paradigm

An evaluation of EDTA compounds for iron fortification of cereal-based foods

Fe absorption was measured in adult human subjects consuming different cereal foods fortified with radiolabelled FeSO4, ferrous fumarate or NaFeEDTA, or with radiolabelled FeSO4 or ferric pyrophosphate in combination with different concentrations of Na2EDTA. Mean Fe absorption from wheat, wheat–soyabean and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) infant cereals fortified with FeSO4 or ferrous fumarate ranged from 0·6 to 2·2 %. For each infant cereal, mean Fe absorption from ferrous fumarate was similar to that from FeSO4 (absorption ratio 0·91–1·28). Mean Fe absorption from FeSO4-fortified bread rolls was 1·0 % when made from high-extraction wheat flour and 5·7 % when made from low-extraction wheat flour. Fe absorption from infant cereals and bread rolls fortified with NaFeEDTA was 1·9–3·9 times greater than when the same product was fortified with FeSO4. Both high phytate content and consumption of tea decreased Fe absorption from the NaFeEDTA-fortified rolls. When Na2EDTA up to a 1:1 molar ratio (EDTA:Fe) was added to FeSO4-fortified wheat cereal and wheat–soyabean cereal mean Fe absorption from the wheat cereal increased from 1·0 % to a maximum of 5·7 % at a molar ratio of 0·67:1, and from the wheat–soyabean cereal from 0·7 % to a maximum of 2·9 % at a molar ratio of 1:1. Adding Na2EDTA to ferric pyrophosphate-fortified wheat cereal did not significantly increase absorption (P\u3e0·05). We conclude that Fe absorption is higher from cereal foods fortified with NaFeEDTA than when fortified with FeSO4 or ferrous fumarate, and that Na2EDTA can be added to cereal foods to enhance absorption of soluble Fe-fortification compounds such as FeSO4

Revisiting Gandhi's Idea of Trusteeship in the Context of Globalization and Inequality

Mahatma Gandhi's idea of trusteeship is a pragmatic model of development that aims to attain economic equality in society. This idea is an alternative to communism and capitalism and is based on nonviolence and inclusivity. Trusteeship seeks to resolve the conflict between labour and capital by emphasizing on equitable distribution of work and wages, giving equal importance to manual and mental labour, promoting people to labour for their own bread, creating a society in which all the people are entitled only to as much wealth as required to satisfy their needs and have time for leisure. Trusteeship replaces competition with cooperation by promoting wealthy people to voluntarily abdicate their wealth for the underprivileged. It aims to transform self-interested individuals to work for group-interest. This idea is relevant for the present times when inequality is widening the gap between rich and poor, and weakening the prospects of inclusive development. Trusteeship is a workable solution that can ensure sustainable progress in contemporary times.La idea de administración fiduciaria de Mahatma Gandhi es un modelo pragmático de desarrollo que apunta a alcanzar la igualdad económica en la sociedad. Esta idea es una alternativa al comunismo y al capitalismo, y se basa en la no violencia y la inclusividad. La administración fiduciaria trata de resolver el conflicto entre el trabajo y el capital haciendo hincapié en la distribución equitativa del trabajo y los salarios, dando igual importancia al trabajo manual y al mental, promoviendo que las personas trabajen para ganar su propio pan, creando una sociedad en la que todas las personas tengan derecho a tanta riqueza como sea necesario para satisfacer sus necesidades y disponer de tiempo libre. La administración fiduciaria sustituye la competencia por la cooperación al promover que las personas ricas renuncien voluntariamente a su riqueza en favor de los menos privilegiados. Su objetivo es transformar a los individuos interesados en sí mismos para que trabajen por el interés del grupo. Esta idea es relevante hoy en día en los tiempos en que la desigualdad está ampliando la brecha entre ricos y pobres y debilitando las perspectivas de un desarrollo inclusivo. La administración fiduciaria es una solución a la vista viable y que puede garantizar un progreso sostenible en la época contemporánea

Effectiveness of therapeutic Salmonella Typhimurium in selectively targeting human cancer cell lines [abstract]

Abstract only availableStudies indicate that non-virulent strains of Salmonella Typhimurium have tumor-targeting activity. Indeed, S. Typhimurium has been observed to selectively target cancer tissue by a ratio of over 1000:1. Most of these studies focused on the cancer cell selectivity of one strain, the genetically modified S. typhimurium VNP20009. One such study found that a single IV injection of VNP20009 produced tumor growth inhibition of 57 - 95% in mice. Another study conducted by Thamm and associates found that administration of VNP20009 results in dectable bacterial colonization of tumor tissue and partial anti-tumor activity in tumor-bearing dogs. Despite its selectivity, VNP20009 was shown to be too toxic when given to patients in phase I clinical tests. Scientists at Columbia's Cancer Research Center developed a therapeutic strain, CRC2636, an archival strain of S. typhimurium that has been shown to destroy PC-3M without extensive lysis of the cancer cells, a factor thought to contribute to the toxicity of VNP20009. Our research strategy involved analyzing the effectiveness of CRC2636 in selectively targeting prostate, breast, and colon cancer cell lines when incubated with their normal counterparts. In order to track CRC2636 in the attachment and invasion studies, we electroporated pRST plasmids that constitutively expressed the fluorescent mCherry protein into our therapeutic strain. Attachment studies were done on a time course from 10 minutes up to 4 hours and invasion studies were done up to 16 hours. Quantitative results were obtained by counting the number of attached bacterial cells to the cancerous and normal cells at the various time points tested.Cancer Research Cente

Constraining the speed of sound inside neutron stars with chiral effective field theory interactions and observations

The dense matter equation of state (EOS) determines neutron star (NS) structure but can be calculated reliably only up to one to two times the nuclear saturation density, using accurate many-body methods that employ nuclear interactions from chiral effective field theory constrained by scattering data. In this work, we use physically motivated ansatzes for the speed of sound $c_S$ at high density to extend microscopic calculations of neutron-rich matter to the highest densities encountered in stable NS cores. We show how existing and expected astrophysical constraints on NS masses and radii from X-ray observations can constrain the speed of sound in the NS core. We confirm earlier expectations that $c_S$ is likely to violate the conformal limit of $c_S^2\leq c^2/3$, possibly reaching values closer to the speed of light $c$ at a few times the nuclear saturation density, independent of the nuclear Hamiltonian. If QCD obeys the conformal limit, we conclude that the rapid increase of $c_S$ required to accommodate a $2$ M$_\odot$ NS suggests a form of strongly interacting matter where a description in terms of nucleons will be unwieldy, even between one and two times the nuclear saturation density. For typical NSs with masses in the range $1.2-1.4~$ M$_\odot$, we find radii between $10$ and $14$ km, and the smallest possible radius of a $1.4$ M$_{\odot}$ NS consistent with constraints from nuclear physics and observations is $8.4$ km. We also discuss how future observations could constrain the EOS and guide theoretical developments in nuclear physics.Comment: 24 pages, 14 figures, published versio

Parents’ knowledge, attitude, and practice on childhood immunization

Background: The objective of present study was to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices of parents regarding childhood immunization.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in immunization clinic at Vanivilas hospital, a government tertiary care center (G) attached to Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute and a private pediatric clinic (P) in Bengaluru. Data were collected from 200 parents/guardians (100 from each set up) using structured questionnaire administered by the investigators.Results: Out of 200 parents surveyed, 172 (86%) children were found to be fully immunized. The sickness of child was the most common cause (67%) for missing vaccination. A statistically significant proportion of boys (95%) were completely immunized as compared to girls (84%, p<0.01). Most of them knew that vaccination prevented some communicable diseases but were unaware as to which diseases they prevented and that the immunity is not life-long. Knowledge (p<0.004) and practice (p<0.001) of parents opting for optional vaccines were significantly higher in private setting compared to the government setting. All mothers opined that compliance to immunization schedule is important, had recommended vaccination to others and maintained a vaccination card. Gender of the child, birth order, mothers’ educational status, monthly income of parents and religion significantly affected the vaccination status while mother’s employment did not influence it.Conclusion: Although childhood immunization practices and attitudes are satisfactory, majority do not have specific knowledge on vaccines and the duration of protection they offer. Socio-demographic factors had a significant influence on the immunization status. Hence, efforts should be focused on improving them also besides educating them about vaccines to improve their knowledge