Channel strategy adaptation

Using transaction cost theory, considerable research in marketing has focused on the conditions under which firms would use direct or vertically integrated versus indirect or arms length channels of distribution. Data from the field, however, indicate that channel configurations are more varied and complex, with multiple channels and composite channels being just as common as direct and indirect channels. In an attempt to explain this variety, this paper revisits the influence on channel structure of another contending variable, namely environmental complexity. We explore the role and influence of its two components, namely volatility (stability) and heterogeneity (homogeneity). Our study of 139 firms in the healthcare industry reveals that firms facing highly volatile and customer concentrated environments tend to use direct channels, and firms facing highly stable and heterogeneous environments tend to use distribution channels. Intermediate forms such as composite channels and multiple channels were favored by firms facing combinations of the environment where the intensity of one component was high and the other low. In general, firms seem to first choose a business strategy to address their external environment, and then choose a channel strategy to support that business strategy. Firms did not always adapt by making structural changes. Under certain conditions, they simply reallocated channel functions within the same structure, thus virtually deriving all the benefits of a new structure without having to create one.marketing; channels of distribution;

Channel strategy: Formulation and adaptation

Inspired by open systems theories like the structural contingency theory (Lawrence and Lorsch 1967), population ecology theory (Hannan and Freeman 1977), and resource dependence theory (Pfeffer and Salancik 1978), several marketing scholars have investigated how channels adapt and organize themselves to cope with their environments. Curiously, however, the implication of such adaptive behaviour (i.e., the better adapted firms are more profitable) has not been investigated in the marketing literature. This paper aims to probe that question. Moreover, unlike previous marketing studies, we articulate the manufacturer's rather than the distributor's point-of-view, because channel strategy decisions are usually in the manufacturer's domain. We scrutinize firms' adaptive responses from a channel structure and channel task perspective. Results show that the better adapted firms deliver superior performance, and that the adaptive responses often occur subtly at the specific channel task level even when the channel structure itself may appear seemingly unaltered.structural contingency theory; population ecology theory; resource dependence theory;

Correlation between neuroimaging (CT scan) and neurological presentation in antepartum and postpartum eclampsia

Background: Eclampsia is a pregnancy related condition with high mortality and morbidity along with perinatal mortality and morbidity. The following study is designed to correlate the neurological presentation with neuroimaging (CT scan brain) in antepartum and postpartum eclampsia patients, which will guide in proper management of the patients.Methods: A prospective study conducted over a period of one year. 100 patients were included in all. The neurological presentation and neuroimaging findings were correlated in all antepartum and postpartum eclampsia patients who met the study criteria. The comparison was done using chi-square test and unpaired student ‘t’ test. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated to find the accuracy of neurological presentation in determining the diagnosis and kappa agreement.Results: Out of the 100 patients studied, 52 had significant CT scan findings. Of these 52, 35 women had neurological signs and symptoms, and 17 cases did not have neurological signs and symptoms (p=0.003). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were found to be 67.31%, 62.5%, 66.04% and 63.83% respectively and the diagnostic accuracy was found to be 65%.Conclusions: Evaluation of neurological signs and symptoms in women with eclampsia is an important assessment which helps for the further management. Neuroimaging has limited role in uncomplicated cases. Neuroimaging is indicated in atypical presentation, fatal cases and those resistant to standard anti-eclamptic therapy, where the signs and symptoms fail to predict the likelihood diagnosis

The comparative study of fibrin degradation products in normal pregnancy and pregnancy induced hypertension

Background: Pregnancy induced hypertension is a multisystem disorder and is characterized by changes in haemostatic system. The assessment of the coagulation parameters of the patients of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia is important because it helps to diagnose the severity of the disease, and to predict the outcome. There is no universal agreement as to the need for further investigations if the platelet count comes normal. Hence in such cases it is always prudent to get the coagulation profile. D dimer of such patients is done to diagnose the cases of coagulation failure early and to manage it efficiently. The objectives of the study to compare the Fibrin Degradation Products in term normal pregnancy, pre eclamptic and eclamptic patients, to assess the severity of pregnancy induced hypertension and to detect coagulation failure early and manage before it worsens.Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli during the period of March 2014 to February 2015 on 100 patients between 37-42 weeks of gestation. 50 controls were well matched with the study population which included a total of 50 patients with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Pregnant women with known bleeding disorders, on anticoagulant therapy, with abruptio placentae, with IUD, in labour and with established DIC were excluded.The blood coagulation parameters which were compared between the control and the study population were Bleeding time (BT), Platelet Count, Clotting time (CT), Prothrombin time (PT), Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and D-dimer.Results: The BT, CT, PT, aPTT values were nearly identical in all the groups. The platelet count showed a decreasing trend from normal control to eclampsia group. The D dimer showed an increasing trend from the normal control to eclampsia group. D dimer level was raised in all patients who were in sub clinical and clinical coagulation failure.Conclusions: This study shows that even with the normal routine coagulation parameters, D dimer was significantly elevated in both subclinical and clinical DIC. So, D dimer can be used as a specific tool in early diagnosis and deciding appropriate management of PIH

A study on association of thrombocytopenia with pregnancy induced hypertension

Background: Hypertension is common complication of pregnancy and contributes significantly to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. With incidence of 5-7% of all pregnancy. Platelet count is the most simple and economical method of prediction of PIH, way before the derangements in PT, PTT and TT occur. This study sought the importance of platelet count as the most consistent and reliable method in predicting the severity of PIH. The aim and objectives of the study was to correlate severity of PIH with degree of thrombocytopenia and the degree of thrombocytopenia with fetal and maternal outcome.Methods: Prospective observational study was done during November 2014 to June 2015. A total of 100 cases were included in this period that was diagnosed as PIH. Investigations like platelet count, LFT, RFT, PT were done. Observations were tabulated, analyzed and conclusions were drawn.Results: 66% of all the cases had severe preeclampsia and 56% had thrombocytopenia. There was very high significant relationship between the degree of thrombocytopenia with the severity of the PIH (at p <0.001). 12% of the fetuses had IUD, 10% had IUGR, 4% died after birth and 2% had severe birth asphyxia. 5 % of the mothers had DIC, 3 % showing HELLP syndrome, and 1% died.Conclusions: Thrombocytopenia is the most common complications of PIH and at times is life threatening. Therefore, platelet count can be used as an early, simple, and rapid test to assess the severity of pre eclampsia and prevent progression to HELLP syndrome and DIC

Optothermal Trapping of Fluorescent Nanodiamonds using a Drop-casted Gold Nanoparticle

Deterministic optical manipulation of fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs) in a fluid environment has emerged as an experimental challenge in multimodal biological imaging. The design and development of nano-optical trapping strategies to serve this purpose is an important task. In this letter, we show how a drop-casted gold nanoparticle (Au np) can facilitate optothermal potential to trap individual entities of FNDs using a low power density illumination (532nm laser, 0.1 mW/$\mu$m$^2$). We utilize the same trapping excitation source to capture the spectral signatures of single FNDs and track their position. Furthermore, by tracking the dynamics of FND, we measure the trapping stiffness as a function of laser power and surfactant concentration and emphasize their relevance as vital parameters for nano-manipulation. Our trapping configuration combines the thermoplasmonic fields generated by individual gold nanoparticles and the optothermoelectric effect facilitated by surfactants to realize a nano-optical trap down to a single FND 120 nm in size. We envisage that our drop-casting platform can be extrapolated to perform targeted, low-power trapping, manipulation, and multimodal imaging of FNDs inside biological systems such as cells.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables. Supplementary videos may be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gkW9g5Z7Fhl4i3ZQUOBQYuUYAPrHykzY?usp=sharin

Endoplasmic Reticulum PI(3)P Lipid Binding Targets Malaria Proteins to the Host Cell

SummaryHundreds of effector proteins of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum constitute a “secretome” carrying a host-targeting (HT) signal, which predicts their export from the intracellular pathogen into the surrounding erythrocyte. Cleavage of the HT signal by a parasite endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protease, plasmepsin V, is the proposed export mechanism. Here, we show that the HT signal facilitates export by recognition of the lipid phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI(3)P) in the ER, prior to and independent of protease action. Secretome HT signals, including those of major virulence determinants, bind PI(3)P with nanomolar affinity and amino acid specificities displayed by HT-mediated export. PI(3)P-enriched regions are detected within the parasite's ER and colocalize with endogenous HT signal on ER precursors, which also display high-affinity binding to PI(3)P. A related pathogenic oomycete's HT signal export is dependent on PI(3)P binding, without cleavage by plasmepsin V. Thus, PI(3)P in the ER functions in mechanisms of secretion and pathogenesis

Molecular typing reveals substantial Plasmodium vivax infection in asymptomatic adults in a rural area of Cameroon

BACKGROUND: Malaria in Cameroon is due to infections by Plasmodium falciparum and, to a lesser extent, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale, but rarely Plasmodium vivax. A recent report suggested “Plasmodium vivax–like” infections around the study area that remained unconfirmed. Therefore, molecular and antigenic typing was used to investigate the prevalence of P. vivax and Duffy in asymptomatic adults resident in Bolifamba. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2008 to October 2009. The status of all parasite species was determined by nested PCR in 269 blood samples collected. The P. falciparum and P. vivax anti-MSP/CSP antibody status of each subject was also determined qualitatively by a rapid card assay. Parasite DNA was extracted from a sample infected with three parasite species, purified and sequenced. The Duffy antigen status of 12 subjects infected with P. vivax was also determined by sequencing. In silico web-based tools were used to analyse sequence data for similarities and matches to reference sequences in public DNA databases. RESULTS: The overall malaria parasite prevalence in 269 individuals was 32.3% (87) as determined by PCR. Remarkably, 14.9% (13/87) of infections were caused either exclusively or concomitantly by P. vivax, established both by PCR and microscopic examination of blood smears, in individuals both positive (50%, 6/12) and negative (50%, 6/12) for the Duffy receptor. A triple infection by P. falciparum, P. vivax and P. malariae, was detected in one infected individual. Anti-MSP/CSP antibodies were detected in 72.1% (194/269) of samples, indicating high and continuous exposure to infection through mosquito bites. DISCUSSION: These data provide the first molecular evidence of P. vivax in Duffy positive and negative Cameroonians and suggest that there may be a significant prevalence of P. vivax infection than expected in the study area. Whether the P. vivax cases were imported or due to expansion of a founder effect was not investigated. Notwithstanding, the presence of P. vivax may complicate control efforts if these parasites become hypnozoitic or latent as the liver stage. CONCLUSIONS: These data strongly suggest that P. vivax is endemic to the south-west region of Cameroon and should be taken into account when designing malaria control strategies

Prostate specific antigen: a new means as diagnostic and prognostic factor for breast cancer

ABSTRACT Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a serine protease expressed at high levels in prostate epithelium and elevated PSA in serum is a well established marker, and also helps in management of prostate cancer. In recent times it has become widely accepted that PSA is also present in many non prostatic sources, creating doubts about the specificity of its tissue expression. Numerous studies have suggested that the molecular forms of PSA imply to signify a potential tool for the risk assessment of breast cancer. Studies have suggested new biological role of PSA in breast physiopathology. Additional studies are essential to enrol PSA indisputably as an additional means as diagnostic and prognostic tool for breast cancer. Here is the summary of how PSA has a potential to become a new diagnostic and prognostic tool

Effect of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed powder on lipid profile: A single blind placebo controlled study

Background: Dyslipidemia is one of the most prevalent risk factors contributing to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Clinical trials have demonstrated that treatment of dyslipidemia reduces cardiovascular events. Fenugreek seed powder supplementation has lipid-lowering activity, but has not been studied extensively. In light of this, we undertook the present study at tertiary care hospital in Amravati, Maharashtra, with the aim of studying the effect of fenugreek seed powder on serum lipid profile in patients with dyslipidemia & to determine the adverse effects of it. Methods: The study was a single blind placebo controlled study conducted on 60 patients with dyslipidemia from June 2022 to November 2022, after meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: It was found significant decrease in serum total cholesterol (237.32 to 204.51mg/dl) p value 0.05, without any major side effects. Conclusion: Fenugreek seed powder significantly lowers serum total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in dyslipidemia patients, with no effect on serum HDL cholesterol levels. fenugreek seed powder supplementation considerably improves lipid Profile. Hence it could be well-thought-out as an effective lipid lowering nutritional supplement. Further high quality & large scale studies are needed to decisively establish the clinical efficacy of fenugreek seed powder