The Role of Indirect Network Effects in Explaining Platform Dominance in the Video Game Industry (2002-2006): A Network Perspective

Going beyond the traditional operationalization of indirect network effects as the number of complements available, this study focuses on the network positions of platforms and complementors to explain platform dominance. We use data from the U.S. home video game industry between 2002 and 2006 to test our model. While the impact of degree of linkages with complementors is not significant, our findings support that platform dominance is positively influenced by a greater variety of links with complementors and lesser degree of overlap with other platforms. We find support for the impact of complementor dominance on platform dominance and that this impact decreases with platform age. Our results have important implications for research in indirect network effects and also important managerial implications. Platform providers need to focus on making their platforms more heterogeneous and providing the third party developers with toolkits that encourage them to develop titles exclusively for a platform

For platforms, durability is the new strategic imperative

The platform business model has spread rapidly, but many platform firms are rendered obsolete almost as quickly as they achieve initial success. The dynamics by which some platforms persist in the marketplace while others quickly fail are not well understood. David McIntyre, Arati Srinivasan, and Asda Chintakananda suggest at least three approaches that foster more durable platforms: creating stronger ties among users, leveraging cross-platform benefits, and allying with powerful complementors

Role of H- and D- MATE-Type Transporters from Multidrug Resistant Clinical Isolates of Vibrio fluvialis in Conferring Fluoroquinolone Resistance

Background: The study seeks to understand the role of efflux pumps in multidrug resistance displayed by the clinical isolates of Vibrio fluvialis, a pathogen known to cause cholera-like diarrhoea. Methodology: Two putative MATE family efflux pumps (H- and D-type) were PCR amplified from clinical isolates of V. fluvialis obtained from Kolkata, India, in 2006 and sequenced. Bioinformatic analysis of these proteins was done to predict protein structures. Subsequently, the genes were cloned and expressed in a drug hypersusceptible Escherichia coli strain KAM32 using the vector pBR322. The recombinant clones were tested for the functionality of the efflux pump proteins by MIC determination and drug transport assays using fluorimeter. Results: The sequences of the genes were found to be around 99 % identical to their counterparts in V. cholerae. Protein structure predicting servers TMHMM and I-TASSER depicted ten-twelve membrane helical structures for both type of pumps. Real time PCR showed that these genes were expressed in the native V. fluvialis isolates. In the drug transport assays, the V. fluvialis clinical isolates as well as recombinant E. coli harbouring the efflux pump genes showed the energydependent and sodium ion-dependent drug transport activity. KAM32 cells harbouring the recombinant plasmids showed elevated MIC to the fluoroquinolones, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin but H-type pumps VCH and VFH from V. cholerae and V. fluvialis respectively, showed decreased MIC to aminoglycosides like gentamicin, kanamycin and streptomycin. Decrease i

Role of distributed databases in an apparel supply chain

M.S.Sundaresan Jayarama

Multi-sided platforms as new organizational forms

Multi-sided platforms (MSPs) have recently drawn considerable research attention, as the influence of platforms is increasingly relevant across a wide array of industries. However, despite theoretical and empirical advances spanning multiple disciplines, several core questions remain about MSPs. This article highlights recent advances in platform research, and provides novel insights and future directions around four major themes in this domain: platform business models, platform scale and scope, heterogeneity of platform "sides”, and the role of technology in platform evolution