Downsizing Older Employees : A Study of India’s Public Sector Banks

Premilla D’Cruz 한국고용노사관계학회 2005 産業關係硏究 Vol.15 No.2

Downsizing in the form of a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) was introduced in various public sector banks in India as part of the financial sector reforms initiated under the macroeconomic stabilization and structural adjustment programmes. Using van Manen’s hermeneutic phenomenological approach, the impact of VRS on separated employees and their families was studied in a South Indian city. Data collected through in-depth interviews were subject to holistic and sententious thematic analysis. The findings of the present study stand in contrast to previous studies on the impact of downsizing. That is, whereas earlier inquiries describe the adverse effects of downsizing, participants in the present study spoke in terms of fulfillment, relaxed pace of life, time to pursue various interests (and in some cases, alternate careers), better family life, ability to manage health-related needs and unchanged quality of life and economic position. Contextual factors, especially developmental stage and financial status, play a critical mediating role over here. Further, the nature of the severance package, the opportunity to choose to take VRS and the level of preparedness about the introduction of VRS in public sector banks served as facilitators of a smooth transition.

The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B): a potential therapeutic target for estrogen receptor negative breast cancers.

Biswas, D K,Dai, S C,Cruz, A,Weiser, B,Graner, E,Pardee, A B National Academy of Sciences 2001 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF Vol.98 No.18

<P>The effect of a kinase inhibitor Go6796 on growth of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated estrogen receptor negative (ER-) breast cancer cells in vivo and role of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) on tumorogenesis have been investigated. This was studied in an animal model by implanting ER- mouse mammary epithelial tumor cells (CSMLO) in syngeneic A-J mice. (i) Local administration of Go6976 an inhibitor of protein kinases C alpha and beta inhibited growth of tumors and caused extensive necrotic degeneration and regression of the tumors without causing any microscopically detectable damage to the vital organs liver and lung. (ii) Stable expression of dominant-negative mutants of the beta subunit (dnIkkbeta) of the inhibitory kappa B (IkappaB) kinase (dnIkk) that selectively blocked activation of NF-kappaB caused loss of tumorigenic potential of CSMLO cells. Stable expression of dnIkkbeta also blocked phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced activation of NF-kappaB and overexpression of cyclin D1, concomitantly with the loss or reduced tumorigenic potential of these cells. Thus, results from in vivo and in vitro experiments strongly suggest the involvement of NF-kappaB in ER- mammary epithelial cell-mediated tumorigenesis. We propose that blocking NF-kappaB activation not only inhibits cell proliferation, but also antagonizes the antiapoptotic role of this transcription factor in ER- breast cancer cells. Thus, NF-kappaB is a potential target for therapy of EGFR family receptor-overexpressing ER- breast cancers.</P>

Analysis of the shelf life of chitosan stored in different types of packaging, using colorimetry and dentin microhardness

Antonio Miranda da Cruz-Filho,Angelo Rafael de Vito Bordin,Luis Eduardo Souza-Flamini,Débora Fernandes da Costa Guedes,Paulo César Saquy,Ricardo Gariba Silva,Jesus Djalma Pécora 대한치과보존학회 2017 Restorative Dentistry & Endodontics Vol.42 No.2

Objectives: Chitosan has been widely investigated and used. However, the literature does not refer to the shelf life of this solution. This study evaluated, through the colorimetric titration technique and an analysis of dentin micro-hardness, the shelf life of 0.2% chitosan solution. Materials and Methods: Thirty human canines were sectioned, and specimens were obtained from the second and third slices, from cemento-enamel junction to the apex. A 0.2% chitosan solution was prepared and distributed in 3 identical glass bottles (v1, v2, and v3) and 3 plastic bottles (p1, p2, and p3). At 0, 7, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 days, the specimens were immersed in each solution for 5 minutes (n = 3 each). The chelating effect of the solution was assessed by micro-hardness and colorimetric analysis of the dentin specimens. 17% EDTA and distilled water were used as controls. Data were analyzed statistically by two-way and Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison (α = 0.05). Results: There was no statistically significant difference among the solutions with respect to the study time (p = 0.113) and micro-hardness/time interaction (p = 0.329). Chitosan solutions and EDTA reduced the micro-hardness in a similar manner and differed significantly from the control group (p < 0.001). Chitosan solutions chelated calcium ions throughout the entire experiment. Conclusions: Regardless of the storage form, chitosan demonstrates a chelating property for a minimum period of 6 months.

Assessing estrogen signaling aberrations in breast cancer risk using genetically engineered mouse models.

Furth, Priscilla A,Cabrera, M Carla,Dí,az-Cruz, Edgar S,Millman, Sarah,Nakles, Rebecca E New York Academy of Sciences 2011 Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Vol.1229 No.1

<P>Aberrations in estrogen signaling increase breast cancer risk. Molecular mechanisms that impact breast cancer initiation, promotion, and progression can be investigated using genetically engineered mouse models. Increasing estrogen receptor alpha (ER관) expression levels twofold is sufficient to initiate and promote breast cancer progression. Initiation and promotion can be increased by p53 haploinsufficiency and by coexpressing the nuclear coactivators amplified in breast cancer 1 (AIB1) or the splice variant AIB1??3. Progression to invasive cancer is found with coexpression of these nuclear coactivators as well as following a single dose of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene. Loss of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5a reduces the prevalence of initiation and promotion but does not protect from invasive cancer development. Cyclin D1 loss completely interrupts mammary epithelial proliferation and survival when ER관 is overexpressed. Loss of breast cancer gene 1 increases estrogen signaling and cooperates with ER관 overexpression in initiation, promotion, and progression of mammary cancer.</P>

Grafting improves salinity tolerance of bell pepper plants during greenhouse production

Blanca E. Orosco-Alcalá,Héctor G. Núñez-Palenius,Fidel Díaz-Serrano,Luis Pérez-Moreno,Mauricio Valencia-Posadas,Libia I. Trejo-Tellez,Nicacio Cruz-Huerta,Juan I. Valiente-Banuet 한국원예학회 2021 Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Vol.62 No.6

Biotic and abiotic stresses aff ect plant growth and productivity. High-salinity stress aff ects crop yield, causing fi nancialloss to growers. The use of salt-tolerant rootstocks is a strategy that has been used to reduce salt damage in crops. A studywas conducted to evaluate the eff ect of salinity-resistant rootstocks on the physiological and morphological characteristicsof bell pepper plants grown under greenhouse conditions. A factorial experiment was conducted using a completely randomizeddesign with two factors. The bell pepper ‘Viper’ cultivar was grafted on two reported salinity-tolerant rootstocks(E21R10144 and E21R10197), and non-grafted (NG) plants were used as the control. Four salinity levels were applied tothe plants (electrical conductivity treatments using NaCl of 2, 4, 6, and 8 dS m −1 ) in Steiner nutritive solution (100%). Theresponse to salinity was determined using morphological and physiological plant parameters, including fruit yield. Increasedtolerance to salinity conditions (NaCl) was observed in the ‘Viper’ bell pepper grafted on E21R10144, which allowed greaterplant height, stem diameter, leaf size, as well as fresh and dry biomass of both the roots and canopy. The impacts on plantphysiological response, including photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, water content, stomatal density, andfoliar area, were also determined. Our results indicate that the use of the salinity-tolerant bell pepper rootstock E21R10144maintained plant homeostasis and minimized the damage caused by salts to the morphology and physiology, as well as eff ectson fruit yield; thus, it is a promising tool for the management of salt stress.

Photon Upconversion in Crystalline Rubrene: Resonant Enhancement by an Interband State

Cruz, Chad D.,Choi, Hyun Ho,Podzorov, Vitaly,Chronister, Eric L.,Bardeen, Christopher J. American Chemical Society 2018 The Journal of Physical Chemistry Part C Vol.122 No.31

<P>Triplet-triplet exciton annihilation after sensitization of the triplet states by a near-infrared (NIR)-absorbing sensitizer enables rubrene to function as a photon upconversion (UC) material. In this paper, we demonstrate an alternate pathway to NIR upconversion in pristine rubrene crystals: resonantly enhanced two-photon absorption via a weakly allowed interband state. We find that all crystalline rubrene samples exhibit NIR-to-visible upconversion that can be easily observed by eye under low-intensity (20 W/cm<SUP>2</SUP>) continuous wave excitation. The amount of continuous wave photoluminescence (PL) is comparable to what is observed under femtosecond pulsed excitation with the same average intensity. A wide range of excitation intensities (<I>I</I>) for the PL power dependence are explored and careful fitting of the intensity dependence of the upconverted PL shows that it has an approximate <I>I</I><SUP>4</SUP> → <I>I</I><SUP>2</SUP> transition. Moreover, there is a pronounced dependence of the per-pulse upconverted PL signal on the laser repetition rate. A four-state kinetic model with a long-lived (∼1 μs) interband state that takes into account fission and fusion dynamics can reproduce both the <I>I</I><SUP>4</SUP> → <I>I</I><SUP>2</SUP> transition and the dependence of the PL on pulse repetition rate. The modeling suggests that this interband state arises from a low-concentration species, possibly a crystal defect or defective rubrene molecules. Several other polyacene crystals (tetracene, diphenylhexatriene, and perylene) measured under the same conditions did not exhibit similar behavior. The observation of resonantly enhanced upconverted PL without the addition of chemically distinct sensitizers suggests that interband states in organic molecular crystals can generate new and possibly useful photophysical behavior.</P> [FIG OMISSION]</BR>

Strong elevational trends in soil bacterial community composition on Mt. Halla, South Korea

Singh, D.,Lee-Cruz, L.,Kim, W.S.,Kerfahi, D.,Chun, J.H.,Adams, J.M. Pergamon Press ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2014 Soil biology & biochemistry Vol.68 No.-

Elevational trends in the ecology of macroorganisms have been studied extensively; by contrast very little is known of such trends in microbial diversity. Previous studies on soil bacteria have found either a diversity decline, a 'peak' in mid altitudes, or no trend with increasing elevation. Here we studied bacterial diversity and community composition in relation to elevation on Mt. Halla, Jeju Island, South Korea, a massive shield volcano. Samples were taken along two transects, from 100 m.a.s.l. to the summit at 1950 m.a.s.l., at elevational intervals of 200 m. PCR-amplified soil DNA for the bacterial 16S rRNA gene targeting V1 to V3 region was 454-pyrosequenced, and taxonomically classified against EzTaxon-e database. Elevation was the best predictor of variation in bacterial community composition along the two transects, even when considering other soil parameters. Elevation was itself highly correlated with mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP), suggesting that soil bacterial community composition on Mt. Halla is more strongly affected by climate than by geochemical or soil textural factors. The two transects showed certain consistent differences in bacterial phyla composition, with one transect having significantly higher abundance of Planctomycetes and Gemmatimonadetes than the other. Certain other phyla (e.g. Acidobacteria) also showed striking trends in abundance with elevation, but the trends differed between the two transects. Bacterial diversity and richness were also most strongly correlated with elevation, MAT and MAP, although soil pH explained a part of the variation. Moreover, vegetation cover type, irrespective of elevation, had an effect on soil bacterial diversity and richness. We found a 'dip' in diversity at lower mid elevations (700-1300 m) in both transects; a trend which has not been found before. Our results, when compared with other studies, emphasize that no simple rule can be applied to mountain systems in general, but that climate itself is a major influence on community composition.

Vegetable Research and Development in the Philippines

Quirino D. Dela Cruz,Teotimo M. Aganon 한국원예학회 2013 한국원예학회 학술발표요지 Vol.2013 No.5

Ectopic retained gallstone causing an abdominal wall abscess

Reuban Toby D’cruz,Vishal G Shelat 한국간담췌외과학회 2019 Annals of hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery Vol.23 No.2

Does Membership in Agricultural Cooperatives Improve Marketing Efficiency?: Insights from Smallholder Coffee Farmers in Selected Provinces of the Philippines

Liezel S. Cruz(Liezel S. Cruz ),Agham C. Cuevas(Agham C. Cuevas ),Jan Danica S. Asma(Jan Danica S. Asma ),JP Roma D. Duque(JP Roma D. Duque ),Beah M. Orlina(Beah M. Orlina ) The International Academy of Global Business and T 2023 The International Academy of Global Business and T Vol.19 No.1

Purpose - Cooperatives are people-centric organizations that are organized to meet the common needs of their members. One key goal for the establishment of agricultural cooperatives is to help improve the marketing efficiency of their members. This study aimed to analyze the correlation between cooperative membership and marketing efficiency among coffee farmers in the provinces of Cavite, Benguet, and Mountain Province, Philippines. Design/Methodology/Approach - Primary and secondary data were gathered in the study. Linear regression with endogenous treatment was used to analyze the data which examined both observable and unobservable factors affecting the treatment, cooperative membership, potential outcome, and the marketing efficiency. Findings - The results of the study revealed that the average farmer generated USD0.85 more farm income for every peso spent on marketing activities if he/she was a member of an agricultural cooperative. This implied that membership positively improved the marketing efficiency of coffee farmers. Moreover, farmers who sold their processed coffee to cooperatives and who had price access were observed to have higher marketing efficiency. Farmers who were females, adopted more processing technologies, took longer to search for price information, sold to cooperatives, had more coffee experience, and whose farms were located away from technology sources were more likely to become cooperative members. Research Implications - The study recommended the promotion of cooperative membership among farmers to improve their marketing efficiency and capacity-building activities related to the technology adoption and management of cooperatives.