Slow and steady wins the race: learning and the innovation process

How should incumbent firms innovate in IT-based services in the long term? Past empirical research and conventional wisdom suggest that firms should be fast during the radical and incremental phase. We challenge this view in the context of the knowledge economy. We contend that incumbent firms can either be fast during the radical phase or during the subsequent incremental phase of the innovation process. We draw on the innovation and organizational learning literature to argue that sequential combination of modes of learning during the innovation process explains this phenomenon. We show that incumbent firms that learn through the path of internal knowledge creation during the radical phase followed by external knowledge transfer during the incremental phase will be slow at initial radical innovation but fast at subsequent incremental innovations. In contrast, incumbent firms that learn through any other path will be faster at radical innovation but slower at incremental innovations. We study the innovation in IT-based service of online retail banking over nine years (from 1995 to 2003) using archival data. Analysis of a longitudinal data set of 89 incumbent U.S. banks provides evidence for the thesis

Design and Development of Surfactants Based Elastic Vesicular Drug Carrier System containing Antifungal Drug for Ophthalmic Disorder.

The work depicts utility of a novel; surfactants based elastic vesicular drug carrier system (SEVs), for targeting topically applied drug(s) to the posterior segment of the eye. The system comprised span 20 and an edge activator (tween 80). Terbinafine hydrochloride is a synthetic allylamine antifungal with a low molecular weight (327.89 Da.). It is hydrophilic in nature and has high protein binding and a limiting solubilityis expected to show a poor transport across the cornea; hence no ocular formulations are available. It is used to treat ocular mycoses, the second most usual drive of blindness in developing countries. However, its administered poor patient compliance and limited use due to its variable half-life. Therefore, Terbinafine hydrochloride was comprised into a novel sorbitan (spans) based elastic (SEVs) vesicular system with intent to achieve a prolonged and better effect. It was found to be safe in terms of dermal and eye irritation/corrosion tests according to OECD guidelines. Safety was a crucial issue considering that the system is novel (Indian Patent Application 2390/DEL/2008; 1447/DEL/2010) and is completely surfactant based (spans plus edge activators) formulation

Local Application of Sodium Salicylate Enhances Auditory Responses in the Rat’s Dorsal Cortex of the Inferior Colliculus

Sodium salicylate (SS) is a widely used medication with side effects on hearing. In order to understand these side effects, we recorded sound-driven local-field potentials in a neural structure, the dorsal cortex of the inferior colliculus (ICd). Using a microiontophoretic technique, we applied SS at sites of recording and studied how auditory responses were affected by the drug. Furthermore, we studied how the responses were affected by combined local application of SS and an agonists/antagonist of the type-A or type-B γ-aminobutyric acid receptor (GABAA or GABAB receptor). Results revealed that SS applied alone enhanced auditory responses in the ICd, indicating that the drug had local targets in the structure. Simultaneous application of the drug and a GABAergic receptor antagonist synergistically enhanced amplitudes of responses. The synergistic interaction between SS and a GABAA receptor antagonist had a relatively early start in reference to the onset of acoustic stimulation and the duration of this interaction was independent of sound intensity. The interaction between SS and a GABAB receptor antagonist had a relatively late start, and the duration of this interaction was dependent on sound intensity. Simultaneous application of the drug and a GABAergic receptor agonist produced an effect different from the sum of effects produced by the two drugs released individually. These differences between simultaneous and individual drug applications suggest that SS modified GABAergic inhibition in the ICd. Our results indicate that SS can affect sound-driven activity in the ICd by modulating local GABAergic inhibition

Hinderin, a five-domains protein including coiled-coil motifs that binds to SMC3

BACKGROUND: The structural maintenance of chromosome proteins SMC1 and SMC3 play an important role in the maintenance of chromosomal integrity by preventing the premature separation of the sister chromatids at the onset of anaphase. The two proteins are constitutive components of the multimeric complex cohesin and form dimers by interacting at their central globular regions. RESULTS: In order to identify proteins that by binding to SMC3 may interfere with the protein dimerization process, a human cDNA library was screened by the yeast two-hybrid system by using the hinge region of SMC3 as bait. This has lead to the identification of Hinderin, a novel five domains protein including two coiled-coil motifs and sharing a strikingly structural similarity to the SMC family of proteins. Hinderin is ubiquitously expressed in human tissues. Orthologue forms of the protein are present in other vertebrates but not in lower organisms. A mapping of the interaction sites revealed that the N- and C-terminal globular domains mediate the binding of Hinderin to SMC3. Hinderin/SMC3 complexes could be recovered by immunoprecipitation from cell lysates using an anti-SMC3 antibody, thus demonstrating that the two proteins interact in vivo. On the contrary, Hinderin did not interact with SMC1. In vivo the rate of SMC1/SMC3 interaction was decreased by the ectopic expression of Hinderin. CONCLUSIONS: Hinderin is a novel binding partner of SMC3. Based on its ability to modulate SMC1/SMC3 interaction we postulate that Hinderin affects the availability of SMC3 to engage in the formation of multimeric protein complexes

Surgical treatment of long-standing overt ventriculomegaly in adults (LOVA)

Background Longstanding overt ventriculomegaly in adults (LOVA) is characterised by chronic hydrocephalus presumed to begin during infancy, but arresting before becoming clinically detectable. Later in life clinical features of hydrocephalus ensue, typically in the 5th or 6th decades. Only a relatively small number of LOVA case series have been published, and ambiguity remains regarding optimal management. This case series describes a series of patients with LOVA treated successfully at a single neurosurgical institution using endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV). Methods A series of 14 patients were diagnosed with LOVA using established clinical and radiological criteria. All patients underwent an ETVand their clinical conditions were followed up for up to 5 years post-operatively. Results Fourteen patients (100 %) reported either improvement or halt of progression in their presenting symptoms 3 months after ETV; 93 % of patients (n = 13) did not require any further surgical intervention. One patient (7 %) reported deterioration in symptoms beyond 3 months post-operatively, which necessitated further surgery (ventriculoperitoneal shunt). These promising outcomes after ETV are mirrored in numerous other LOVA case series. Other works have analysed the value of CSF shunting procedures in LOVA, with mixed results. A direct, prospective comparison of outcomes after shunt procedures and ETV, with a specific focus on LOVA patients, is yet to be completed. A minority of patients fail to respond, or develop recurrence of symptoms, months or years after initial surgical interventio

DEVELOPMENT AND STABILITY INDICATING HPLC METHOD FOR DAPAGLIFLOZIN IN API AND PHARMACEUTICAL DOSAGE FORM

Objective: To develop precise, accurate and reproducible stability assay method by RP-HPLC for estimation of dapagliflozin in API and pharmaceutical dosage form.Methods: The adequate separation was carried using agilent C18 (4.6 ml (millimeter)*150,5 µm (micromiter), mixture of acetonitrile: di-potassium hydrogen phosphate with pH-6.5 adjusted with OPA (40:60 %v/v) as a mobile phase with the flow rate of 1 ml/min (milliliter/minute) and the effluent was monitored at 222 nm (nanometer) using photo diode array detector. The retention time of dapagliflozin API and dapagliflozin tablet were 3.160 min (minute) and 3.067 min (minute) respectively.Results: Linearity for dapagliflozin was found in the range of 50-150µg/ml (microgram/milliliter) (R2 = 0.99) respectively. The accuracy of the present method was evaluated at 50 %, 100% and 150%. The % recoveries of dapagliflozin API and tablet were found to be in the range of 99.00–99.99 % and 98.50–99.99 % respectively. Precision studies were carried out and the relative standard deviation values were less than two. The method was found to be robust.Conclusion: The proposed method was found to be specific, accurate, precise and robust can be used for estimation of dapagliflozin in API and Pharmaceutical dosage form

Study of role of blood transfusion in obstetric emergencies

Background: Blood Transfusion is recognized as one of the eight essential component of comprehensive emergency obstetric care which has been shown to reduce the maternal mortality.1,2 In developing country like India, efforts should be done to make blood and transfusion services well maintained and quickly available to reduce maternal morbidity from haemorrhage and thus decrease the incidence of maternal mortality. Aims & objectives: (1) To study clinical status of the patients at time of admission. (2) To study the role of antenatal visits in all patients required blood transfusion. (3) To study the effect of blood components on the patients’ health. (4) To screen out the patients of high risk pregnancy and treat them safely. (5) To study causes of maternal mortality.Methods: Retrospective study of requirement of blood transfusion in antenatal and postnatal patients who came in labour room during last 3 month period at tertiary care Centre, Ahmedabad.Results: during the whole study out of 2200 patients 440 patients required blood transfusion among which 70% required due to obstetric hemorrhage and 30% due to severe anemia (less than 7 gm/dl). Major associated complications in the transfused patients were anemia (34%) and PPH (36%). 4 patients expired among them 2 were due to development of DIC and septicemia, 1 due to severe anemia and 1 due to severe PPH.Conclusions: Ensuring a safe supply of blood and blood products and the appropriate and rational clinical use of blood. Strategies made to maximize the haemoglobin (Hb) level at the time of delivery as well as to minimize blood loss. Active management of the third stage of labour is required to prevent avoidable morbidities, such as PPH, Retained product of conception, and vaginal lacerations.

Management of produced water in oil and gas operations

Produced water handling has been an issue of concern for oil and gas producers as it is one of the major factors that cause abandonment of the producing well. The development of effective produced water management strategies poses a big challenge to the oil and gas industry today. The conversion of produced water into irrigation or fresh water provides a cost effective tool to handle excessive amounts of the produced water. In this research we proposed on-site produced water treatment units configured to achieve maximum processing throughput. We studied various advanced separation techniques to remove oil and dissolved solids from the produced water. We selected adsorption as the oil removing technique and Reverse Osmosis (RO) as the dissolved solids removing technique as being the best for our purpose. We performed experiments to evaluate operating parameters for both adsorption and RO units to accomplish maximum removal of oil and dissolved solids from the produced water. We compared the best models fitting the experimental data for both the processes, then analyzed and simulated the performance of integrated produced water treatment which involves adsorption columns and RO units. The experimental results show that the adsorption columns remove more than 90% of the oil and RO units remove more than 95% of total dissolved solids from the produced water. The simulation results show that the proper integration and configuration of adsorption and RO units can provide up to 80% efficiency for a processing throughput of 6-8 gallons per minute of produced water. From an oil and gas producers viewpoint output from the produced water treatment system is a revenue generating source. The system is flexible and can be modified for the applications such as rangeland restoration, reservoir recharge and agricultural use

Relationship Between Nursing Staffing Hours (RNs & LPNs) and COVID-19 Mortality in Indiana Nursing Homes

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many nursing homes struggled to meet the needed staffing levels, compromising service delivery in health institutions across the United States. The disproportionate effect of COVID-19 on various health care institutions and staff-patient ratios rejuvenated discussions on the longstanding workforce challenges on quality care and outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative study was to evaluate the relationship between registered nurse (RN) staffing hours and COVID-19 deaths in Indiana private and public nursing home residents based on the data obtained in the Care Compare database and Indiana Department of health COVID-19 portals. The independent study variables were RN and licensed practical nurse (LPN) staffing hours in the Indiana nursing home, and the dependent variable was COVID-19 deaths in Indiana nursing homes. Guided by the Donabedian theory, a descriptive and cross-tabulation analysis determined that RN staffing hours per patient per day significantly affected the COVID-19 mortality rate (p = 0.0387), implying that any change in RN staffing hours per patient per day resulted in a change in COVID-19 mortality. However, LPN staffing hours per patient per day had no statistically significant effect on COVID-19 mortality (p = 0.0773). Findings from this study contribute to positive social change by enabling health care administrators to make effective decision-making regarding human resources management, disaster management, and facility management disciplines to enact efficient and effective hiring practices during medical emergencies