Culture and Crisis Communication: Nestle India\u27s Maggi Noodles Case

© 2017 Elsevier Inc. Extant theoretical paradigms in the field of crisis communication are organization-centric and do not adequately recognize the role of culture. The purpose of this essay is to analyze a crisis faced by Nestle India using the framework of global public relations which defines culture broadly to include political, economic, media, societal, and activist cultures. Our analysis revealed that a multinational corporation with over a century of presence in the country struggled to align itself to the complexities of the cultures of the host country. In the case of Nestle India, whereas environmental variables such as political economy and Westernization of urban India boosted the growth of its instant noodles, the multinational also struggled to cope with the rise of media corporatization, activist pressure and the vagaries of regulatory enforcement not to speak of cultural nationalism. It is evident that Nestlé\u27s crisis response was governed more by its traditional corporate culture than by an ability to keep pace with the changing demands of its environment, leading to the amplification of an issue into a crisis. The study concludes that multinationals that ignore culture will be forced to pay a heavy price both in terms of reputation and the bottom line

Diverting intracellular trafficking of Salmonella to the lysosome through activation of the late endocytic Rab7 by intracellular delivery of muramyl dipeptide

Previously, we showed that live Salmonella-containing phagosomes (LSP) recruit early acting Rab5 and promote fusion with early endosomes, thus avoiding transport to the lysosomes. Therefore, live Salmonella survive in a specialized compartment. Here we show that scavenger-receptor-mediated intracellular delivery of muramyl dipeptide (MDP) to macrophages leads to efficient killing of Salmonella both in vitro and in vivo. To understand the intracellular trafficking modulation of Salmonella by delivery of MDP, we investigated the levels of endocytic Rab proteins, which are the major regulators of vesicular transport. Western blot analysis reveals reduced Rab5 and enhanced Rab7 content in the maleylated bovine serum albumin-MDP (MBSA-MDP)-treated cells. The reduced content of Rab5 in the treated cells and on phagosomes inhibits the fusion of Salmonella-containing phagosomes with early endosomes, and the enhanced Rab7 content in these cells facilitated targeting of LSP to lysosomes, which contain cathepsin D and vacuolar ATPase, for killing. In vitro reconstitution of lysosomal transport demonstrated that a reduced content of Rab5 and an enhanced level of Rab7 in MBSA-MDP-treated cells is primarily responsible for targeting Salmonella to lysosomes. Intracellular delivery of MDP thus offers a general strategy against macrophage-associated infections caused by intracellular pathogens that survive in the host cell by resisting transport to lysosomes

Hemoglobin receptor in Leishmania is a hexokinase located in the flagellar pocket

Hb endocytosis in Leishmania is mediated through a 46-kDa protein located in the flagellar pocket. To understand the nature of the Hb receptor (HbR), we have purified the 46-kDa protein to homogeneity from Leishmania promastigote membrane. Purified HbR specifically binds Hb. The gene for HbR was cloned, and sequence analysis of the full-length HbR gene indicates the presence of hexokinase (HK) signature sequences, ATP-binding domain, and PTS-II motif. Four lines of evidence indicate that HbR in Leishmania is a hexokinase: 1) the recombinant HbR binds Hb, and the Hb-binding domain resides in the N terminus of the protein; 2) recombinant proteins and cell lysate prepared from HbR-overexpressing Leishmania promastigotes show enhanced HK activity in comparison with untransfected cells; 3) immunolocalization studies using antibodies against the N-terminal fragment (Ld-HbR-ΔC) of Ld-HbR indicate that this protein is located in the flagellar pocket of Leishmania; and 4) binding and uptake of 125I-Hb by Leishmania is significantly inhibited by anti-Ld-HbR-ΔC antibody and Ld-HbR-ΔC, respectively. Taken together, these results indicate that HK present in the flagellar pocket of Leishmania is involved in Hb endocytosis

Original scientific paper Synthesis of ruthenium(II) carbonyl complexes with 2-monosubstituted and 1,2-disubstituted benzimidazoles

Abstract: The reaction of the polymeric carbonyl complex [RuCl 2(CO) 2] x wit

Port site desmoid tumour following laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A case report

Desmoid tumours are locally aggressive tumours occurring either spontaneously or in familial conditions. History of trauma is invariably present with surgical trauma being a common cause. Port site desmoid tumours are extremely rare conditions. Inadequate treatment results in high recurrence rate and substantial morbidity. Reconstruction, if required, by the appropriate technique is vital to avoid an incisional hernia. Adjuvant therapy may be useful in large locally advanced or recurrent tumours. We describe a young female with large port site desmoid tumour following laparoscopic cholecystectomy managed with wide local excision and mesh placement

Rab5-mediated endosome–endosome fusion regulates hemoglobin endocytosis in Leishmania donovani

To understand the trafficking of endocytosed hemoglobin (Hb) in Leishmania, we investigated the characteristics of in vitro fusion between endosomes containing biotinylated Hb (BHb) and avidin–horseradish peroxidase (AHRP). We showed that early endosome fusion in Leishmania is temperature and cytosol dependent and is inhibited by ATP depletion, ATPγS, GTPγS and N-ethylmaleimide treatment. The Rab5 homolog from Leishmania donovani, LdRab5, was cloned and expressed. Our results showed that homotypic fusion between the early endosomes in Leishmania is Rab5 dependent. Early endosomes containing BHb fused efficiently with late endosomes in a process regulated by Rab7, whereas no fusion between early and late endosomes was detected using fluid phase markers. Pre-treatment of early endosomes containing BHb with monoclonal antibody specific for the C-terminus of the Hb receptor (HbR) or the addition of the C-terminal cytoplasmic fragment of the HbR specifically inhibited the fusion with late endosomes, suggesting that signal(s) mediated through the HbR cytoplasmic tail promotes the fusion of early endosomes containing Hb with late endosomes

Vaccination with Leishmania Hemoglobin Receptor–Encoding DNA Protects Against Visceral Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a severe infectious disease. Drugs used for leishmaniasis are very toxic, and no vaccine is available.We found that the hemoglobin receptor (HbR) of Leishmania was conserved across various strains of Leishmania,and anti-HbR antibody could be detected in kala-azar patients’ sera. Our results showed that immunization with HbR-DNA induces complete protection against virulent Leishmania donovani infection in both BALB/c mice and hamsters. Moreover, HbR-DNA immunization stimulated the production of protective cytokines like interferon-g (IFN-g), interleukin-12 (IL-12), and tumor necrosis factor–a (TNF-a) with concomitant down-regulation of diseasepromoting cytokines like IL-10 and IL-4. HbR-DNA vaccination also induced a protective response by generating multifunctional CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. All HbR-DNA–vaccinated hamsters showed sterile protection and survived during an experimental period of 8 months. These findings demonstrate the potential of HbR as a vaccine candidate against visceral leishmaniasi

Outcomes of cardiac surgery in patients weighing <2.5 kg: Affect of patient-dependent and -independent variables

ObjectiveA recent Society of Thoracic Surgeons database study showed that low weight (<2.5 kg) at surgery was associated with high operative mortality (16%). We sought to assess the outcomes after cardiac repair in patients weighing <2.5 kg versus 2.5 to 4.5 kg in an institution with a dedicated neonatal cardiac program and to determine the potential role played by prematurity, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (STAT) risk categories, uni/biventricular pathway, and surgical timing.MethodsWe analyzed the outcomes (hospital mortality, early reintervention, postoperative length of stay, mortality [at the last follow-up point]) in patients weighing <2.5 kg at surgery (n = 146; group 1) and 2.5 to 4.5 kg (n = 622; group 2), who had undergone open or closed cardiac repairs from January 2006 to December 2012 at our institution. The statistical analysis was stratified by prematurity, STAT risk category, uni/biventricular pathway, and usual versus delayed surgical timing. Univariate versus multivariate risk analysis was performed. The mean follow-up was 21.6 ± 25.6 months.ResultsHospital mortality in group 1 was 10.9% (n = 16) versus 4.8% (n = 30) in group 2 (P = .007). The postoperative length of stay and early unplanned reintervention rate were similar between the 2 groups. Late mortality in group 1 was 0.7% (n = 1). In group 1, early outcomes were independent of the STAT risk category, uni/biventricular pathway, or surgical timing compared with group 2. A lower gestational age at birth was an independent risk factor for early mortality in group 1.ConclusionsA dedicated multidisciplinary neonatal cardiac program can yield good outcomes for neonates and infants weighing <2.5 kg independently of the STAT risk category and uni/biventricular pathway. A lower gestational age at birth was an independent risk factor for hospital mortality

G6007.04/G6010.04: Improve chickpea productivity for marginal environments in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia- Phase II

Chickpea is the world’s second largest grown food legume and the developing countries account for over 95% of its production and consumption. Drought is globally the number one constraint to chickpea production, causing yield losses of around 3.7 million tons (out of a total production of 8.6 million tons). TL I Phase II aims at harnessing the resources developed during Phase I for chickpea crop improvement. Eight superior lines were selected based on phenotyping of reference collection and 37 and 44 crosses were made in sub-Saharan Africa and India respectively for developing pre-breeding populations. Further 28 two-way crosses, 14 four-way crosses and seven eight-way crosses were made and F1s have been shown for developing MAGIC populations (Activity 1). For designing the KASPar assay, 2486 genes containing high confidence SNPs were chosen and by using Marker Services of Integrated Breeding Platform, successful KASPar assays were developed for a total of 2005 genes. Towards development of genome-wide physical map, in collaboration with National Institute of Plant Genetic Research (NIPGR), New Delhi (S Bhatia and A K Tyagi) and UC-Davis, USA (MingCheng Luo), two new BAC libraries were constructed using HindIII and EcoRI restriction enzymes. To date, 15,744 clones were fingerprinted and 10,368 fingerprints were edited. Fingerprinting of remaining clones is in progress to develop genome wide physical map (Activity 2). For enhancing MABC activities, involving NARS partners as leaders under TL I Phase II, Ms Serah Songok, a PhD student from Egerton University in Kenya, is involved in introgression of QTL for root traits from ICC 4958 into ICCV 97105 and ICCV 95423. In this context, 3 cycles of MABC have been completed and 100 BC3F1 seeds were generated in each cross. DZARC in Debre Zeit has completed first backcrossing of Ejere × ICC 4958 and Arerti × ICC 4958 with the recurrent parents (Ejere and Arerti). In case of MARS, that was initiated in the Phase I of TL-I, F3:5 progenies from two crosses (JG 11 × ICCV 04112 and JG 130 × ICCV 05107) developed were evaluated at three locations (Debre Zeit in Ethiopia, Koibatek in Kenya and Patancheru in India) under rainfed and irrigated. QTL analysis is in progress for both the populations. A proposal was developed and submitted to the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India for funding a TL-I complementary project on application of MABC and MARS research to enhance drought tolerance in chickpea in India. The project has been approved with a total budget of about US $ 850,000 over a period of 3 years (Activity 3). A workshop on modern breeding technologies for chickpea improvement was conducted in the Year 1 (October 25 – November 19, 2010) at the ardent request of breeders and collaborators. (http://www.icrisat.org/bt-publicdomain-mas2.htm). One PhD student, Ms Serah Songok, currently working at ICRISAT, has been registered at Egerton University. A second PhD student, Mr Musa Jarso, has registered at Addis Ababa University will commence work shortly on molecular breeding. Another PhD student, Ms Alice Koskie, registered at WACCI would work on MARS activities. Mr Kebede Teshome, PhD student, registered at Haramaya University is currently working at ICRISAT. An MSc student, Mr Abebe Sori, is registered at Haramaya University and Mr Moses Oyier, has been registered at Egerton, and has commenced work at both the university and at ICRISAT. Mr Getachew Tilahun, registered at Addis Ababa University will start to work on MABC for drought tolerance. Efforts to identify and enroll the balance of the targeted number of MSc students are ongoing (Activity 4). Compilation of the marker sequence data, marker genotyping data, mapping data and phenotypic data obtained in Tropical Legumes I Project Phase I is in progress. Data will be curated in appropriate databases by the end of April 2011. Till now 11 datasets were curated and data have become available in local database (Activity 5)