MyOMlab as an enabling e-learning technology: Bridging the gap between student- and instructor-centered learning

Technology is continually allowing educators to combine didactic and democratic approaches to facilitate learning and producing successful managers. This paper discusses how one such technology, myOMlab—integrated within a learning management system, Blackboard—can deliver core operations management course, catered primarily to working students i.e., interns and future managers. To confront the bias against online education and engage in serious research on online education, we share our experiences of teaching one semester-long online course. Although robust research evidence is yet to be gathered to convince educators about its benefits, we propose a set of successful myOMlab activities (including manual and Excel-based Dice Game) used within a discussion-based format that will reduce the isolation of online students while maintaining the rigor of curriculum. We conclude that e-learning technology e.g., myOMlab, can be used as an empowering mechanism to pivot from traditional instructor-centered learning toward this improved pedagogical system of student-centered learning

Analysis of completeness of information in package inserts of Indian and foreign multinational pharmaceutical companies: an Indian perspective

Background: A package insert (PI) should contain all the information required for safe and effective use of the medicine. The present study evaluated and compared the completeness of information in package inserts of Indian and foreign multinational pharmaceutical companies based in India.Methods: A total 150 PI’s consisting of 75 package inserts of Indian and foreign multinational pharmaceutical companies in India were collected and analyzed based on the criteria of Indian drugs and cosmetics rules, 1945 under section 6.2, 6.3 of schedule D, which consists of 25 parameters. Each criteria was scored for presence of information as ‘1’, absence as ‘0’. Total score was 25, score >20 was graded as ‘A’, 10-20 as ‘B’ and <10 as ‘C’. Data was expressed as numbers and percentage.Results: Total 150 PI evaluated included antimicrobials, antipsychotics etc. Out of all the PIs 26% belonged to grade A, 70% belonged to grade B and 4% belonged to grade C. Lack of information was found in both the categories of PIs. Foreign PIs performed better in comparison to Indian PIs as in grade A, 27 out of 41 PIs were foreign whereas 56 PI’s in grade B were Indian and 47 were foreign. Both categories of PI showed good information about active ingredient, dosage form, warnings, contraindications and lacked information about retail price and references etc.Conclusions: Both categories of PIs were deficient in completeness of information. The pharmaceutical companies, both national and foreign, must provide the information as per regulatory norms.

Cystic fibrosis: current treatment and future direction

Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder, characterized by mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, leading to abnormality in the chloride channels of the mucus and sweat producing glands. Multiple organs systems are affected in this disorder, like respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract, severely impacting the patient’s quality of life, eventually leading on to several complications and death. Since the uncovering of the underlying genetic defect in cystic fibrosis (CF), our knowledge of the disease process has increased substantially, but we still lack a holistic approach to its management, which comprises of multiple facades, requiring both pharmacological and non-pharmacological or rehabilitatory approaches. So far, the therapeutic options were limited to targeting the consequences and complications of the disease, such as respiratory infection, mucus retention, pancreatic insufficiency, etc., but now several promising therapies may be able to address the underlying pathology rather than its long-term effects. This review summarizes the current and upcoming pharmacological options for CF, such as those targeting the CFTR gene defect directly, including gene editing, CFTR correctors and potentiators; drugs targeting the epithelial sodium channels (ENaC inhibitors); repositioning of some existing drugs and evaluating their role in CF; and understanding the disease better by transcriptomic approaches and the role of gut microbiota in the disease process and severity

Self injection of Dichlorvos, an Organophosphorus Compound

We report two patients who injected themselves a strong organophosphate compound, dichlorvas, and showed the typical clinical picture of organophosphate intoxication. There are very few case reports of parenteral organophosphorous poisoning. With the appropriate therapy, their symptoms disappeared in a few days. The cases are reported because of unusual and interesting way of intoxication

Improving Operations Strategy: Application Of TOC Principles In A Small Business

This paper demonstrates how small business managers can create and sustain competitive advantage by applying basic principles of Theory of Constraints (TOC) using a case study on a small family-owned pizza restaurant. TOC five focusing steps were used to reveal the business constraints and practical recommendations were provided that significantly improved throughput, resource utilization, and customer satisfaction without incurring any significant expenses. TOC performance measures encourage small business managers to find innovative ways of increasing throughput instead of simply cutting costs. Positive outcomes in this study demonstrate how small businesses effectively manage their operations and realize benefits using TOC principles

Clomiphene citrate: the changing landscape

Ovulatory dysfunction is one of the leading causes of female infertility. Clomiphene citrate has emerged as a boon in the induction of ovulation in the human female. Clomiphene results in many adverse effects some of which are documented, and some reported spontaneously. Clomiphene citrate is a non-racemic mixture of two isomers, zuclomiphene and enclomiphene, having individual and opposite biological actions. It is accepted that cis isomer (zuclomiphene) is estrogenic and trans isomer (enclomiphene) is anti-estrogenic. Zuclomiphene does not have any ovulation-induction propertybut gets accumulated for a longer time in the human body and it has more agonistic activity than enclomiphene. Thus, Zuclomiphene may be responsible for the adverse effects by clomiphene citrate. Enclomiphene is being explored for its potential use in male as well as female infertility. Trails are underway to explore its effectiveness and safety in various disorders. This article highlights the pharmacology of Clomiphene with respect to its isomers and the potential uses of enclomiphene based on evidences available

A Conflict Resolution Tool for Project Managers: Evaporating Cloud

Today’s ever changing business environment requires managers to interact globally with people across functional areas with conflicting points of view. A preliminary literature review suggests that a generic tool to understand and resolve conflicts is desirable. This paper demonstrates how a theory of constraints-based logical tool, an evaporating cloud, can enable IT managers to better understand conflicts underlying most problems. Using a commonly encountered conflict as an example, we show how this tool verbalizes a problem through the logic of cause and effect, surfaces the assumptions causing the conflicting actions and decisions, and presents injections – potential solutions – that can cause the conflict to evaporate (i.e., disappear or be resolved). Using a real-world IT project management case study, we also explain the usefulness and versatility of this intuitive tool via a web app for novice users. We conclude this paper acknowledging its limitations and providing some future research directions

HRM Strategies in Structurally Depressed Industries: The Japanese Approach

Several adverse macro-economic trends beginning in the early 1970’s drastically reduced the relative competitiveness of various sectors of the Japanese economy. Firms in Western (industrialized) countries that were faced with a similar loss of comparative advantage dealt with the problem by undertaking strategies of restructuring--primarily, retrenchment and downsizing strategies. However, in sharp contrast to the Western approach, the Japanese response to industrial decline, from a HRM standpoint, was a product of the political, cultural, and social institutions/values of that society. The Japanese government, business sector and the labor unions worked together to ‘maintain’ employment levels (albeit, mainly that of permanent employees) in order to minimize the costs of adjustment for the key stakeholder groups in particular, and for the Japanese society as a whole, in general

Epidemiological characteristics of deceased of Influenza A in a tertiary care hospital at Ajmer, Rajasthan, India

Background: Influenza A (H1N1) is a novel strain of the Influenza virus and is widely known as Swine Flu. It causes a respiratory illness and is very contagious. Symptoms of Influenza A (H1N1) are similar to those of the seasonal flu. First laboratory confirmed Influenza A (H1N1) case of India was reported from Hyderabad on 16th May 2009.Methods: The study was retrospective descriptive, record-based study and carried in deceased of Influenza A (H1N1) who were admitted in Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India from 01 January 2016 to 31 December 2018.Results: A total 1524 suspected cases were screened for Influenza A (H1N1) at JLN Medical College and Hospital, Ajmer during the period from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2018. 294 cases were diagnosed as Influenza A (H1N1) positive and 44 died. Majority 25 (56.81%) were belonged to rural area and 30 (68.18%) females died as compare to 14 (31.18%) male.Conclusions: Incidence and mortality is common throughout the year but it more in winter months. Mortality is high in age group of 50 years and above, females and rural area. IEC activities should be throughout year