How important is ownership in a market with a level playing field: The Indian banking sector revisited

It has long been argued that private ownership of firms leads to better firm performance. However, theory as well as empirical evidence suggest that factors like agency problems may not allow privately owned firms to operate more efficiently or perform better that state owned firms. At the same time, it has been argued that competition and hard budget constraints can induce state owned firms to operate efficiently. In India, banking sector reforms were initiated in 1992-93, leading to entry and other forms of deregulation, and a level playing field for all banks. Data for 1995-96 through 2000-01 suggest that by 1999-00 ownership was no longer a significant determinant of performance; induced by competition, public sector banks were able to eliminate the performance/efficiency gap that existed between them and domestic private sector and foreign banks

Differential requirement of SAGA components for recruitment of TATA-box-binding protein to promoters in vivo

The multisubunit Saccharomyces cerevisiae SAGA (Spt-Ada-Gcn5-acetyltransferase) complex is required to activate transcription of a subset of RNA polymerase II-dependent genes. However, the contribution of each SAGA component to transcription activation is relatively unknown. Here, using a formaldehyde-based in vivo cross-linking and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we have systematically analyzed the role of SAGA components in the recruitment of TATA-box binding protein (TBP) to SAGA-dependent promoters. We show that recruitment of TBP is diminished at a number of SAGA-dependent promoters in ada1delta, spt7delta, and spt20delta null mutants, consistent with previous biochemical data suggesting that these components maintain the integrity of the SAGA complex. We also find that Spt3p is generally required for TBP binding to SAGA-dependent promoters, consistent with biochemical and genetic experiments, suggesting that Spt3p interacts with and recruits TBP to the core promoter. By contrast, Spt8p, which has been proposed to be required for the interaction between Spt3p and TBP, is required for TBP binding at only a subset of SAGA-dependent promoters. Ada2p and Ada3p are both required for TBP recruitment to Gcn5p-dependent promoters, supporting previous biochemical data that Ada2p and Ada3p are required for the histone acetyltransferase activity of Gcn5p. Finally, our results suggest that TBP-associated-factor components of SAGA are differentially required for TBP binding to SAGA-dependent promoters. In summary, we show that SAGA-dependent promoters require different combinations of SAGA components for TBP recruitment, revealing a complex combinatorial network for transcription activation in vivo

Eaf1p Is Required for Recruitment of NuA4 in Targeting TFIID to the Promoters of the Ribosomal Protein Genes for Transcriptional Initiation In Vivo.

NuA4 (nucleosome acetyltransferase of H4) promotes transcriptional initiation of TFIID (a complex of TBP and TBP-associated factors [TAFs])-dependent ribosomal protein genes involved in ribosome biogenesis. However, it is not clearly understood how NuA4 regulates the transcription of ribosomal protein genes. Here, we show that NuA4 is recruited to the promoters of ribosomal protein genes, such as RPS5, RPL2B, and RPS11B, for TFIID recruitment to initiate transcription, and the recruitment of NuA4 to these promoters is impaired in the absence of its Eaf1p component. Intriguingly, impaired NuA4 recruitment in a Δeaf1 strain depletes recruitment of TFIID (a TAF-dependent form of TBP) but not the TAF-independent form of TBP to the promoters of ribosomal protein genes. However, in the absence of NuA4, SAGA (Spt-Ada-Gcn5-acetyltransferase) is involved in targeting the TAF-independent form of TBP to the promoters of ribosomal protein genes for transcriptional initiation. Thus, NuA4 plays an important role in targeting TFIID to the promoters of ribosomal protein genes for transcriptional initiation in vivo. Such a function is mediated via its targeted histone acetyltransferase activity. In the absence of NuA4, ribosomal protein genes lose TFIID dependency and become SAGA dependent for transcriptional initiation. Collectively, these results provide significant insights into the regulation of ribosomal protein gene expression and, hence, ribosome biogenesis and functions

Isolation and characterization of adenosine kinase from Leishmania donovani

Adenosine kinase (ATP:adenosine 5'-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.20) has been purified 3250-fold from Leishmania donovani promastigotes using ion-exchange, gel filtration, and affinity chromatography techniques. Both native and sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis of the enzyme revealed a single polypeptide of around 38,000 molecular weight. Biophysical and biochemical analyses of the enzyme reveal unique characteristics different from those of adenosine kinases from other eukaryotic sources. The isoelectric pH of the enzyme is 8.8. In native acrylamide gels the enzyme moves with an RF of about 0.62. The enzyme displays a maximum activity at pH between 7.5 and 8.5 and is dependent upon an optimum ATP/Mg2+ ratio. ATP at high concentration inhibits the reaction. Adenosine and Mg2+ are not inhibitory. EDTA completely knocks off the activity. Enzyme activity is dependent upon the presence of active thiol group(s) at or near the active center. Under a defined set of conditions the enzyme exhibited an apparent Km for adenosine and ATP of 33 and 50 microM, respectively. Of the nucleoside triphosphates tested ATP and GTP were the most effective phosphate donors. Marginal inhibition of activity was detected with other nucleosides as competitors. However, adenosine analogs, such as 7-deaza-adenosine (tubercidin) and 6-methylmercaptopurine riboside at very low concentrations, were found to be excellent inhibitors and substrates as well. S-Adenosylhomocysteine does not inhibit the reaction even at very high concentration

Good and bad institutions:is the debate over? Cross-country firm-level evidence from the textile industry

Using firm-level data from nine developing countries, we demonstrate that certain institutions, like restrictive labour market regulations, that are considered bad for economic growth might be beneficial for production efficiency, whereas good business environment, which is considered beneficial for economic growth, might have an adverse impact on production efficiency. We argue that our results suggest that there might be significant difference in the macro- and micro-impacts of institutional quality, such that the classification of institutions into 'good' and 'bad might be premature

Purification and properties of an endoglucanase from Thermoascus aurantiacus

AbstractAn Endo-cellulase was purified to homogeneity using ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange and size exclusion chromatography from newly isolated strain of Thermoascus aurantiacus RBB-1. The recovery and purification fold were 13.3% and 6.6, respectively, after size exclusion chromatography. The purified cellulase has a molecular mass (M) of 35kDa. Optimum temperature for the enzyme was found to be 70°C and stability was upto 80°C for 1h. Along with higher stability at 80°C, enzyme showed half lives of 192h and 144h at 50 and 70°C respectively. The purified cellulase was optimally active at pH 4.0 and was stable over a broad pH range of 3.0–7.0. The enzyme purified showed apparent Km and Vmax values of 37mg/ml and 82.6U/min/mg protein respectively with higher salt tolerance of 10% for 1h

Collinear N\'eel-type ordering in partially frustrated lattices

We consider two partially frustrated S = 1/2 antiferromagnetic spin systems on the triangular and pentagonal lattices. In an elementary plaquette of the two lattices, one bond has exchange interaction strength $\alpha$ ($\alpha \leq 1$) whereas all other bonds have exchange interaction strength unity. We show that for $\alpha$ less than a critical value $\alpha_{c}$, collinear N\'eel-type ordering is possible in the ground state. The ground state energy and the excitation spectrum have been determined using linear spin wave theory based on the Holstein-Primakoff transformation.Comment: Four pages, LaTeX, Four postscripts figures, Phys. Rev. B58, 73 (1998

Regulation of Antisense Transcription by NuA4 Histone Acetyltransferase and Other Chromatin Regulatory Factors.

NuA4 histone lysine (K) acetyltransferase (KAT) promotes transcriptional initiation of TATA-binding protein (TBP)-associated factor (TAF)-dependent ribosomal protein genes. TAFs have also been recently found to enhance antisense transcription from the 3\u27 end of the GAL10 coding sequence. However, it remains unknown whether, like sense transcription of the ribosomal protein genes, TAF-dependent antisense transcription of GAL10 also requires NuA4 KAT. Here, we show that NuA4 KAT associates with the GAL10 antisense transcription initiation site at the 3\u27 end of the coding sequence. Such association of NuA4 KAT depends on the Reb1p-binding site that recruits Reb1p activator to the GAL10 antisense transcription initiation site. Targeted recruitment of NuA4 KAT to the GAL10 antisense transcription initiation site promotes GAL10 antisense transcription. Like NuA4 KAT, histone H3 K4/36 methyltransferases and histone H2B ubiquitin conjugase facilitate GAL10 antisense transcription, while the Swi/Snf and SAGA chromatin remodeling/modification factors are dispensable for antisense, but not sense, transcription of GAL10. Taken together, our results demonstrate for the first time the roles of NuA4 KAT and other chromatin regulatory factors in controlling antisense transcription, thus illuminating chromatin regulation of antisense transcription

Microstructural damage evaluation in Ni-based superalloy gas turbine blades by fractal analysis

Ni-based superalloys are used as turbine disc and blade material in which creep, fatigue and creep-fatigue are the important damage mechanisms. Mechanical properties of these alloys depend upon the amounts of gamma-gamma-prime present in the microstructure as well as precipitation of carbides along the grain boundaries. The distribution of gamma-prime depends on the chemical composition, operating temperature and the length of service exposure. During service exposure, as damage accumulates progressively, the morphological characteristics of microstructure change which needs to be assessed using metallographic technique. Conventionally, the extent of damage resulting in deterioration of mechanical properties is quantified by hardness measurement. The variation in hardness is correlated with the morphological features in the metalographic images by identifying precipitation of carbides, presence of cuboidal gamma-prime and the structural changes that occur in the matrix. In this paper, we report fractal dimensions of the insitu metallographic images which can correlate the progressive damage accumulation at various locations of the blades