EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH IN INDIAN BANKING

This paper attempts to examine technical efficiency and productivity performance of Indian scheduled commercial banks, for the period 1979-2008. We model a multiple output/multiple input technology production frontier using semiparametric estimation methods. The endogenity of multiple outputs is addressed by semi parametric estimates in part by introducing multivariate kernel estimators for the joint distribution of the multiple outputs and correlated random effects. Output is measured as the rupee value of total loans and total investments at the end of the year. The estimates provide robust inferences of the productivity and efficiency gains due to economic reforms.Banking, Frontier efficiency, Productivity

Chromium uptake by Fenugreek

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum- graecum) is both herb (leaves) and a spice (seed) belonging to the family Fabaceae. Fenugreek leaves and seeds are used in the cuisine of India. Fenugreek also has medicinal value. Fenugreek seeds are known to reduce serum glucose and improve glucose tolerance and hence are prescribed to diabetic patients. In the recent past supplemental Chromium is being prescribed to diabetic patients to activate (increased- insulin binding, insulin receptor number, insulin receptor phosphorylation) insulin. Plants can uptake substantial quantities of toxic metals from contaminated soils if these soils are well ameliorated. 

It is then probable that the medicinal efficacy of Fenugreek in the case of diabetes could be enhanced if it takes up chromium from the soil. Preliminary studies are being conducted to note the chromium uptake by Fenugreek from soils which are applied with potassium dichromate

Studies on the Accumulation of Chromium in Fenugreek

Studying Cr uptake by Fenugreek, we note that the maximum concentration of Cr takes place in the shells of the pods followed by leaves, stems and seeds in that order. Interestingly, applied higher doses of Cr does not increase accumulation of Cr in the stems, rather Cr content in the stems levels off. However, the maximum dispersal/distribution of Cr taken up is in the leaves

VOICE RECOGNIZATION FOR MOUSE CONTROL USING HCI

One  of  the  most  important  research  areas  in  the  field  of  Human -Computer-Interaction (HCI) is gesture  recognition as it provides a natural and intuitive  way  to  communicate  between  people  and  machines.  Voice-based HCI applications range from computer applications to virtual/augmented reality and is recently being explored in other fields. This work proposes the implementation of absolute virtual mouse based on the interpretation of voice reorganization control. The procedure is to control the mouse pointer as for the mouse movement to up/down/left/right, open the file, dragging the file. This  virtual  device  is designed  specifically  as  an  alternative non-contact  pointer  for  people  with mobility impairments in the upper extremities. The implementation of the virtual mouse by voice control is to make HCI simplification for disabled persons especially for the person who are not having the hands and arms, and Alternative mouse cursor positioning system for laptops

SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE-INDUCED APOPTOSIS OF MONOLAYER CERVICAL CANCER CELLS

  Objective: The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of phagocytosis of killed yeast on the induction of apoptosis in monolayer of HeLa cells.Methods: HeLa cell line was incubated with different doses (1000-7.8 μg/ml) of heat-killed Saccharomyces cerevisiae for 24, 48, and 72 hrs. The cytotoxicity against HeLa cell line during different exposure hours was screened by 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay. Induction of apoptosis was further confirmed by morphological and biochemical examination. Antiproliferative effect of yeast was examined under inverted microscope. Cell morphological changes were analyzed by fluorescent staining with propidium iodide.Results: The results showed that yeast induces cytotoxicity against HeLa cells in concentrations and during prolonged exposure periods. The viability of HeLa cells decreased from 85% to 45% during 72 hrs of treatment with 1000 μg/ml of yeast cells. The inhibitory concentration 50% of heat-killed yeast required to induce 50% inhibition of HeLa cells was 62.5 μg/ml. Apoptotic cells showed signs such as cell enlargement, membrane blebbing, and chromatin condensation. Furthermore, cell cycle analysis showed that S. cerevisiae treated HeLa cells and showed a typical apoptosis pattern of DNA content that reflected sub-G0 phase (corresponding to apoptotic cells).Conclusion: Results from the present work show that the heat-killed yeast has anticancer activity and it includes apoptosis of HeLa cells in vitro

Overseas recruitment in India : structures, practices and remedies

This paper is drawn from an exploratory study aimed at assessing the efficiency of the existing institution for governing labour emigration in India with special reference to the overseas recruitment system. It traces the evolution of the current institution from the colonial times and foregrounds its discriminatory rationalities engendering enormous social cost. It tracks the difference between emigration through social network and recruiting agents and looks at the difference of cost and risk involved. By focusing on the unskilled and semi-skilled emigrations from India, the paper makes an endeavour to determine the discrepancy between the legal/policy structures and the prevailing practices of overseas recruitment, including strategies of circumventing legality. Drawing inputs from major stakeholders like intending emigrants, return emigrants, emigrant households, recruiting agents, Protectors of Emigrants, foreign employers, emigrant labourers and Indian Missions in select destination countries, it assesses the transaction costs of the present institution, identifies its major inadequacies and make recommendations for an alternative institutional framework that can effectively counter the many and varied illegitimate and dishonest activities which have sprung up in the field of emigration and ensure ethical practices in India’s overseas recruitment sector. Key words: emigration, recruitment, institution, social cost, transaction cost, social network, legality/illegality, protection, ECR/ ECNR JEL Classification : J21, J2

Structure, growth and morphology polyphenylene sulphide

The crystaIIinity, particle size and morphology of polyphenylene sulphide synthesized under various conditions have been investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that crystaIIinity decreased from 71 to 66% with increase of reaction time. The growth of particle size as well as total polymer mass followed a time dependence of the form X = X 0 (1 -e -αt). The particle size distribution curve was noted to be sharp centring at 3 μn for short reaction time, high speed of stirring and also for low concentration of reactants. The particle morphology showed very strong dependence on various reaction parameters. Intricate sheaf-like morphology was noted for the particles at long reaction times or low stirring speeds while oblong platelet type two-dimensional morphology was noted when a low concentration of reactants was used