Examining the effect of business model innovation on crisis management: the mediating role of entrepreneurial capability, resilience and business performance

Purpose- The onset of a crisis demands that businesses respond quickly and effectively. So, it might be helpful to examine the effect of business model innovation and how to increase its impact on better crisis management. Design/methodology/approach- The present study is applied in terms of aim and a quantitative descriptive survey regarding the data collection method. The structural equation model with the partial least squares approach and Smart PLS 3 software was used for the structural analysis of the questionnaire. Findings- The findings revealed that business model innovation could lead to better crisis management. In addition, the components of entrepreneurial capability, resilience, and business performance played a mediating role. Research limitations/implications- Some factors may mediate the effect of business model innovation on crisis management. Thus, future research can investigate them and identify their impact. Practical implications- The present study suggests that managers should re-examine business model processes and make them innovative to improve crisis management. Originality/value- The present study examines the factors that affect crisis management with an emphasis on innovation, assesses the impact of mediating factors in this regard, and attempts to provide a model to facilitate better crisis management

Sensitivity to Antibiotics of Bacteria Exposed to Gamma Radiation Emitted from Hot Soils of the High Background Radiation Areas of Ramsar, Northern Iran

Background: Over the past several years our laboratories have investigated different aspects of the challenging issue of the alterations in bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics induced by physical stresses. Objective: To explore the bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics in samples of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. typhimurium), Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae after exposure to gamma radiation emitted from the soil samples taken from the high background radiation areas of Ramsar, northern Iran. Methods: Standard Kirby-Bauer test, which evaluates the size of the zone of inhibition as an indicator of the susceptibility of different bacteria to antibiotics, was used in this study. Results: The maximum alteration of the diameter of inhibition zone was found for K. pneumoniae when tested for ciprofloxacin. In this case, the mean diameter of no growth zone in non-irradiated control samples of K. pneumoniae was 20.3 (SD 0.6) mm; it was 14.7 (SD 0.6) mm in irradiated samples. On the other hand, the minimum changes in the diameter of inhibition zone were found for S. typhimurium and S. aureus when these bacteria were tested for nitrofurantoin and cephalexin, respectively. Conclusion: Gamma rays were capable of making significant alterations in bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics. It can be hypothesized that high levels of natural background radiation can induce adaptive phenomena that help microorganisms better cope with lethal effects of antibiotics

Investigating the Impact of International Markets and New Digital Technologies on Business Innovation in Emerging Markets

International markets and digital technologies are considered among the factors affecting business innovation. The emergence and deployment of digital technologies in emerging markets increase the innovation potential in businesses. Companies with an entrepreneurial orientation also strengthen their innovation capabilities. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of international markets and new digital technologies on business innovation in emerging markets, and to estimate the mediating effect of entrepreneurial orientation on this relationship. The present research was applied research in terms of aim and descriptive survey in terms of data collection method and quantitative in terms of the type of collected data. A standard questionnaire was to collect data. The study’s statistical population consisted of all companies providing business services in Tehran, Iran. To analyse the data, the structural equation modelling method with partial least squares method and Smart PLS-3 Software was used. The results revealed that international markets and digital technologies are positively associated with innovation. They also revealed that when a company’s entrepreneurial orientation increases, the digital technologies and international markets will be more involved in mutual relationships

Clinicopathologic Features of Neuroblastoma-like Schwannoma: A Case Report of Unusual Morphologic Variant

Neuroblastoma-like schwannoma is known as a rare unusual variant of schwannoma with difficulties of differential diagnosis with neuroblastoma, Ewing sarcoma/peripheral neuroectodermal tumor and other cutaneous small round cell tumors. Herein, we describe a neuroblastoma-like schwannoma that was presented as a painless lesion on the dorsal side of the left hand in a 39-year-old woman. Composed collagen fibers in the central core of rosettes and diffuse expression of S100 protein in the tumor cells found in the biopsy specimens confirmed the Schwann cell origin of the tumor

Application of Linear and Non-linear Programming Model to Assess the Sustainability of Water Resources in Agricultural Patterns

Water resources sustainability is one of the major issues in the agricultural sustainability. In this study sustainability of water resources has been investigated by use of linear and non-linear models in six models based on optimal utilization of water resources in the north parts farms of Iran because of incorrect use of agricultural water resources, from 2011 to 2012. Also “gross margin per a unit of water consumption” and “employment per a unit of water consumption” are used as indicators for assessing the sustainability of cropping patterns. The results show that cropping pattern of fractional goal programming (FGP) model has been near to current situation and has shown realistic conditions according to expertise and advantage of this area in cultivation of certain crops. So the FGP model has desirability in each of indicators than other five models

Application of Linear and Non-linear Programming Model to Assess the Sustainability of Water Resources in Agricultural Patterns

Water resources sustainability is one of the major issues in the agricultural sustainability. In this study sustainability of water resources has been investigated by use of linear and non-linear models in six models based on optimal utilization of water resources in the north parts farms of Iran because of incorrect use of agricultural water resources, from 2011 to 2012. Also “gross margin per a unit of water consumption” and “employment per a unit of water consumption” are used as indicators for assessing the sustainability of cropping patterns. The results show that cropping pattern of fractional goal programming (FGP) model has been near to current situation and has shown realistic conditions according to expertise and advantage of this area in cultivation of certain crops. So the FGP model has desirability in each of indicators than other five models

Distinguishing Immunohistochemical Features of Alopecia Areata From Androgenic Alopecia

Background: Distinction between alopecia areata (AA) and androgenic alopecia (AGA) can be made according to clinical presentation and biopsy findings. However, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate them, especially when the diffuse pattern of both AA and AGA is in the differential diagnosis of hair loss in androgen-dependent areas. Objectives: To evaluate the characteristics of inflammatory cell infiltration using CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD20 antigens, in AA and AGA to find some consistent histological clues for distinguishing these two entities. Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with diagnosed AA (30 cases) and AGA (30 cases) was performed based on the clinical and histopathological criteria. We studied immunohistochemical findings for CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD20 in all selected cases. Results: Immunohistochemical stains for CD4 and CD20 were not helpful in differentiating AA from AGA, but the inflammation density for AA was significantly (P-value = .025, .001) higher than AGA in CD3 (specificity= 86.7% and sensitivity= 96.7%) and CD8 (specificity= 50% and sensitivity=86.6%). Our findings revealed that intrafollicular CD3 (P-value = .017) and CD8 (P-value = ˂.001) infiltrations were significantly higher in AA samples in comparison with AGA. Conclusion: Characterization of CD3 and CD8 in IHC samples is helpful, especially when the density of CD3 and CD8 T cells are significant in more than 50% of the infiltrated cells and are located intrafolliculary. Moreover, the most specific and sensitive test for differentiating of AA from AGA is CD3

Distinguishing immunohistochemical features of alopecia areata from androgenic alopecia

Background: Distinction between alopecia areata (AA) and androgenic alopecia (AGA) can be made according to clinical presentation and biopsy findings. However, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate them, especially when the diffuse pattern of both AA and AGA is in the differential diagnosis of hair loss in androgen-dependent areas. Objectives: To evaluate the characteristics of inflammatory cell infiltration using CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD20 antigens, in AA and AGA to find some consistent histological clues for distinguishing these two entities. Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with diagnosed AA (30 cases) and AGA (30 cases) was performed based on the clinical and histopathological criteria. We studied immunohistochemical findings for CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD20 in all selected cases. Results: Immunohistochemical stains for CD4 and CD20 were not helpful in differentiating AA from AGA, but the inflammation density for AA was significantly (P-value = .025, .001) higher than AGA in CD3 (specificity= 86.7% and sensitivity= 96.7%) and CD8 (specificity= 50% and sensitivity=86.6%). Our findings revealed that intrafollicular CD3 (P-value = .017) and CD8 (P-value = ˂.001) infiltrations were significantly higher in AA samples in comparison with AGA. Conclusion: Characterization of CD3 and CD8 in IHC samples is helpful, especially when the density of CD3 and CD8 T cells are significant in more than 50% of the infiltrated cells and are located intrafolliculary. Moreover, the most specific and sensitive test for differentiating of AA from AGA is CD3

Decreased Gene Expression of Lipoxin A4 Receptor May Contribute to Nonallergic Rhinitis Pathogenesis

Background: Rhinitis is a prevalent chronic inflammatory illness of the nasal mucosa. Arachidonic acid-derived lipoxin A4 (LXA4) has long been recognized to exert crucial antiinflammatory and pro-resolving effects on inflammatory responses through a specific receptor named LXA4 receptor/formyl peptide receptor-2 (ALX/FPR2). This study aimed to determine the serum level of LXA4 and the relative mRNA expression level of FPR2 in peripheral blood cells of patients with rhinitis (allergic and nonallergic) compared to healthy individuals. Materials And Methods: The study groups consisted of 37 patients with Allergic Rhinitis (AR), 16 patients with Nonallergic Rhinitis (NAR), and 20 sex- and age-matched healthy individuals. The measurement of LXA4 serum level was performed by the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique, and the analysis of FPR2 mRNA expression level was performed by quantitative real-time PCR method. Results: The serum concentrations of LXA4 decreased in AR and NAR patients compared to healthy controls; however, this difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Besides, the mRNA expression level of FPR2 in peripheral blood cells of patients with nonallergic rhinitis was significantly lower than that in allergic rhinitis (P<0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that reduced gene expression of FPR2 may contribute to developing persistent and chronic nasal mucosa inflammation seen in NAR patients. Therefore, stable analogs of LXA4 and its receptor agonist may help develop new therapeutic approaches for rhinitis