Inquiring into Entrepreneurial Orientation: Making Progress, One Step at a Time

As we think through the four papers that comprise this special issue, we cannot help but be elated at the progress made by entrepreneurial orientation (EO) scholarship over the past few decades. Indeed, it seems safe to contend that EO defies the description of entrepreneurship research as a “hodgepodge” (Shane & Venkataraman, 2000), and instead serves as a good example of how a cumulative body of knowledge should develop in organizational science

Application of Machine Learning Technique in Predicting the Bearing Capacity of Rectangular Footing on Layered Sand under Inclined Loading

The aim of the present study is to apply machine learning technique to predict the ultimate bearing capacity of the rectangular footing on layered sand under inclined loading. For this purpose, a total 5400 data based on the finite element method for the rectangular footing on layered sand under inclined loading were collected from the literature to develop the machine learning model. The input variables chosen were the thickness ratio (0.00 to 2.00) of the upper dense sand layer, embedment ratio (0 to 2), the friction angle of upper dense (410 to 460) sand and lower loose (310 to 360) sand layer and inclination (00 to 450) of the applied load with respect to vertical. The output is the ultimate bearing capacity. Further, the impact of the individual variable on the bearing capacity was also assessed by conducting sensitivity analysis. The results reveal that, the load inclination is the major variable affecting the bearing capacity at embedment ratio 0, 1 and 2. Finally, the performance of the developed machine learning model was assessed using six assessing statistical parameters. The results reveal that the developed model was performing satisfactorily for the prediction of the ultimate bearing capacity of the rectangular footing on layered sand under inclined loading

Applying Convolutional-GRU for Term Deposit Likelihood Prediction

Banks are normally offered two kinds of deposit accounts. It consists of deposits like current/saving account and term deposits like fixed or recurring deposits.For enhancing the maximized profit from bank as well as customer perspective, term deposit can accelerate uplifting of finance fields. This paper focuses on likelihood of term deposit subscription taken by the customers. Bank campaign efforts and customer detail analysis caninfluence term deposit subscription chances. An automated system is approached in this paper that works towards prediction of term deposit investment possibilities in advance. This paper proposes deep learning based hybrid model that stacks Convolutional layers and Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) layers as predictive model. For RNN, Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) is employed. The proposed predictive model is later compared with other benchmark classifiers such as k-Nearest Neighbor (k-NN), Decision tree classifier (DT), and Multi-layer perceptron classifier (MLP). Experimental study concludesthat proposed model attainsan accuracy of 89.59% and MSE of 0.1041 which outperform wellother baseline models

Study of antimicrobial prescribing pattern in a tertiary care teaching hospital at Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India - A tool to teach clinical pharmacology to MBBS students

Background: Due to increasing resistance to a majority of antimicrobials, it becomes very necessary to teach undergraduate students, the future prescribers, about the judicious and rational use of antimicrobial drugs. The objective of this study was to impart the basic clinical skills to undergraduate MBBS students which will form an integral component of practising rational therapeutics.Methods: A total no of 737 cases were followed up by the 5th semester 2nd Professional MBBS students in the Department of Pharmacology at Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences (SGRRIM and HS), Dehradun from June 2013 to July 2015. Patients were analysed on various WHO drug use indicators like drug formulations, drugs prescribed per prescription, Fixed dose Combinations (FDCs), drugs prescribed from National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and drugs prescribed by generic names.Results: A total of 737 prescriptions were analysed. Male: Female ratio was 1.74:1 (63.50%:36.50%). Majority of the patients 218 (29.58%) were in 16-30 years age group. A total of 1205 antimicrobials were prescribed. 304 (25.23%) cephalosporins were most frequent followed by 184(15.27%) penicillins, 176(14.61%) antitubercular drugs, 163(13.53%) nitroimidazoles, 143 (11.87%) fluoroquinolones, 102 (8.46%) aminoglycosides, 29 (2.41%) macrolides, 19 (1.58%) tetracyclines, 12 (1%) carbapenems, 11 (0.91%) antimalarials, 11 (0.91%) antihelminthics, 6 (0.50%) glycopeptides, 4 (0.33%) lincosamides and 41 (3.41%) miscellaneous antimicrobials. Most frequently prescribed antimicrobial was Ceftriaxone which was given in 97 (8.05 %) patients. A total of 424 (35.19%) oral antimicrobials, 777 (64.48%) injectable antimicrobials and 04 (0.33%) local/topical antimicrobial drugs were prescribed. 5.13 drugs per prescription and 1.64 antimicrobials per prescription were prescribed. 2100 (55.56%) drugs were prescribed from National List of Essential Medicine 2015 (NLEM 2015). 1177 (97.68%) antimicrobials were prescribed from NLEM. 1110 (92.12%) antimicrobials were prescribed by brand names. A total of 342 (28.38%); fixed dose combinations of antimicrobials were prescribed.Conclusions: Majority of the prescriptions revealed poly-pharmacy and a very high percentage of drugs were prescribed by their respective brand names. It is only by observing drug utilization patterns, current trends and common errors in prescriptions can be highlighted and rational prescription of antimicrobials can be taught to MBBS students

Study of prevalence and prescribing trends in infectious diseases: as a teaching tool for MBBS 2nd professional students

Background: Irrational prescription of drugs is a common occurrence in clinical practice. Introduction of clinical pharmacology at the undergraduate level as an integral part of rational therapeutics is the need of hour. The present drug utilization study, prevalence and prescribing pattern in infectious diseases in a tertiary care teaching hospital was carried out to teach clinical pharmacology to 2nd professional MBBS students, to sensitize and promote rational prescribing.Methods: A total of 621 prescriptions were collected by 2nd professional MBBS students at Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, Dehradun. Prescriptions were analyzed on various parameters, using WHO drug use indicators.Results: A total of 621 prescriptions were analyzed. 477 (76.81%) were males and 144 (23.19%) were females. Majority of patients 357 (57.49%) were 16-60 years’ age group. The infectious diseases prevalence was 153 (24.63%) enteric fever, 132 (21.26%) hepatitis, 111 (17.87%) pyrexia of unknown origin, 90 (14.49%) cellulitis, 135 (21.74%) belongs to miscellaneous category respectively. A total of 4446 drugs were prescribed, which includes antibiotics 2025 (45.55%), multivitamins 969 (21.79%), antacids 699 (15.72%), analgesics 408 (9.18%), antiemetic 273 (6.14%) and antiepileptic 72 (1.62%) respectively. 3096 (69.64%) oral, 1350 (30.36%) injectable and 786 (17.68%) fixed dose combinations (FDCs) were prescribed. 3.26 antibiotics and 7.15 drugs per prescription were prescribed. 2622 (58.97%) drugs were prescribed from national essential medicine list 2015. 100% drugs were prescribed by brand names.Conclusions: The prescriptions revealed polypharmacy. This study can help to provide feedback to the prescribers, thereby increase in awareness and improve patient care by rational utilization of drugs

Prescribing pattern in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with joint deformity and significant health care related expenses. This disease affects approximately 1% of the adult population, the prevalence of RA in India is approximately 0.75% and increasing trend has been observed. Irrational prescribing is a common phenomenon around the globe. The drug utilization studies form an important tool for the assessment of rational or irrational prescribing and WHO drug use indicators. Thus keeping this in view the prescribing pattern analysis in RA patients was done.Methods: This prospective study was carried out by the department of pharmacology in medicine OPD of SGRRIM and HS, Dehradun for one year. A total of 450 RA diagnosed patients were included in the study. The diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical assessment and lab parameters as rheumatoid factor and anti-ccp. The collected prescriptions were analyzed by using WHO drug use indicators.Results: Total of 450 prescriptions was analyzed. 378 (84%) were females and 72 (16%) were males. Most commonly presenting age group was 31-60 years 276 (61.33%). Family history and RA factor was positive in 168 (37.33%) and 318 (70.67%) patients respectively. Anti-ccp was raised in 408 (90.67%) patients. The comorbid conditions were type-2 diabetes mellitus 72 (16%), hypertension 48 (10.67%), hypothyroidism 36 (8%) and other associated illness 54 (12%). Total of 1655 drugs were prescribed during the study period. The prescribed drugs were disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) 582 (35.18%), vitamin-D3 and calcium supplements 320 (19.34%), analgesics 311 (18.80%), antacids 204 (12.33%), others 238(14.38%). 437 (26.40%) fixed dose combinations (FDCs), 3.67 drugs per prescription, 1145 (69.18%) drugs by brand names and 1161 (70.15%) drugs from the National List of Essential Medicine (NLEM) 2015 were prescribed.Conclusions: Drug prescribing pattern depicts that most commonly prescribed were DMARDs, vitamin-D3 and calcium supplements and analgesics. Most of the drugs were prescribed from NLEM 2015

Drug utilization pattern of analgesics as a teaching tool for rational therapy to MBBS students in a medical college at Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Background: As a need to introduce Clinical Pharmacology at the undergraduate level the drug utilization studies (DUS) offer useful methods for teaching and training in drug therapy. The indiscriminate use of medicines results in unwanted side effects, drug interactions. Thus keeping this view in mind, this drug utilization research was set to evaluate the prescribing pattern of analgesics to impart certain basic skills to MBBS students which will form an integral component of practicing rational therapeutics.Methods: The retrospective study was conducted by Pharmacology department in SGRRIM and HS. A total of 726 prescriptions were collected by 2nd professional MBBS students entering 5th semester and randomly evaluated for prescribing pattern using WHO drug use indicators.Results: A total of 726 prescriptions were analyzed. Male:Female ratio was 470:256(1.8:1). Age wise distribution of patients 0-15years 122(16.80%), 16-30 years 139(19.41%), 31-45years 242 (33.33%), 46-60 years 113(15.56%) and >60years 110 (15.15%). A total of 4663 drugs were prescribed. 435(9.32%) were analgesics. 208 (47.81%) Paracetamol, 66 (15.17%) Tramadol, 62(14.25%) Aceclofenac, 51 (11.72%) Diclofenac, 46 (10.57%) Ibuprofen and 2(0.45%) Buprenorphine were prescribed. 301 (69.20%) Oral drugs and 134 (30.80%) Injectable were prescribed. 108 (24.83%) Numbers of Fixed dose combinations. 0.60 of analgesics were prescribed per prescription. 381 (87.59%) analgesics were prescribed from National Essential Medicine list 2015. 369 (84.83%) drugs were prescribed by brand names.Conclusions: The main purpose of undergraduate medical curriculum is to develop the requisite diagnostic and therapeutic skills of a basic doctor. Such type of drug utilization studies is set with the objective to encourage rational prescribing, and to identify good and bad prescribing practices

Prescribing trends in respiratory tract infections in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Respiratory tract infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Polypharmacy and irrational prescribing in respiratory diseases are common practice worldwide. Keeping in consideration this scenario, present study was undertaken to analyze the drug utilization pattern of respiratory tract infections.Methods: This drug utilization study was conducted by Pharmacology department at SGRRIM & HS to analyze drug utilization pattern of respiratory infections. A total of 585 prescriptions were collected from hospital and randomly evaluated for prescribing pattern using WHO drug indicators.Results: A total of 585 prescriptions were analyzed. Male:Female ratio was 1:0.77. Age wise distribution was done; 81(13.84%) 0-15 years, 54(9.23%) 16-30 years, 198(33.84%) 31-45 years, 75(12.82%) 46-60 years and 177(30.25%) patients belongs to >60 years of age group respectively. A total of 4869 drugs were prescribed, 2754(56.56%) antibiotics, 675(13.8%) bronchodilators, 630(12.93%) corticosteroids, 303(6.22%) antacids, 507(10.41%) in miscellaneous category respectively. 2562(52.61%) oral, 1491(30.62%) injectable and 816(16.75%) inhalational drugs were prescribed. Numbers of Fixed dose combinations were 645(13.24%). 8.32 drugs were prescribed per prescription. 2409(49.47%) drugs were prescribed from national essential medicine list 2015. 4320(88.72%) drugs were prescribed by their brand names.Conclusions: Irrational prescribing and polypharmacy was observed. The drug utilization studies are important tool to sensitize and increases awareness among physicians, which ultimately improves rational prescribing and patient care

Comparative evaluation of efficacy and safety of methotrexate either alone or in combination with hydroxychloroquine in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease and Methotrexate being widely used as monotherapy and in combination for the treatment of RA. Combination therapy provides additional or even more potentiating effects, therefore have been widely used. This study is aimed at comparing the efficacy and safety of Methotrexate either alone or in combination.Methods: This study was conducted for one year from 1st January to 31st December 2015. 52 patients diagnosed with RA were included in this study and were divided in two groups, Group-1 (n=29) patients received methotrexate (MTX) 7.5-15mg/week and Group-2 (n=23) patients received methotrexate 7.5mg once a week + Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) 200mg twice daily. The patients were followed up for a period of 16 weeks. Statistical analysis was done by using graph pad insta and p value of 0.05) in both the groups. Total of Adverse drug reactions reported were 42 (50.60%) in group-1 and 41 (49.40%) in group-2.Conclusions: The combination therapy was found to be more efficacious than MTX monotherapy in improving symptoms and quality of life. The adverse drug reactions were mild, more in combination therapy and none of the patients required withdrawal of treatment