bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Understanding the challenges and strategic actions of social entrepreneurship at base of the pyramid
Authors: Goyal Sandeep , Sergi Bruno S. , Jaiswal Mahadeo P. 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to examine the social entrepreneurship focussed organizations in the context of challenges faced and strategic actions adopted by them during the different stages of self-sustainable business model design and implementation.

Design/methodology/approach
– The empirical context involves the use of qualitative multi-case-based research methodology for data collection and analysis. The sampling involves undertaking the field study of social entrepreneurship oriented organizations, which have made the perceptible socio-economic difference in the lives of the rural and semi-urban population lying at the base of the pyramid (BoP) in India.

Findings
– The findings of this study are presented in two complementary stages. The first stage involves presenting the narrative incorporating the emergent themes and key characteristics of the social entrepreneurship focussed organizations based on the field-research based data collection and analysis. The second stage involves mapping the challenges with the strategic actions thereby formulating a challenge-action framework.

Research limitations/implications
– The paper strengthens the belief in social entrepreneurship as a viable alternative for creating a market-based ecosystem at the BoP. This paper highlights the conception of social entrepreneurship in terms of challenges and corresponding strategic actions.

Practical implications
– The derived challenge-action framework will enable the social entrepreneurs to learn, understand, design and implement a better informed and transparent market-based business models at the BoP resulting in reduced market risks and uncertainty.

Social implications
– The government needs to recognize the social entrepreneurs as partners having a separate legal entity as well as consider their inputs and on-field experiences while framing the policies in favor of the BoP. In addition, the government needs to facilitate the social entrepreneurs in leveraging the government network and institutions for reaching the BoP segment.

Originality/value
– This study is an original contribution to the field of social entrepreneurship in number of ways. The first contribution lies in reviewing the research literature from the definition perspective. The second contribution lies in reviewing the research literature to determine the key challenges faced by the social entrepreneurs at the BoP. The third contribution lies in identifying the propositions and conceptualizing the challenge-action framework depicting the challenges faced and strategic actions required by the social entrepreneurs for successful and sustainable social intervention at the BoP.
Effect of Nanoparticle Concentration on Thermal Damage in Nanoparticle-Assisted Thermal Therapy
Authors: Soni Sanjeev , Tyagi Himanshu , Taylor Robert A. , Kumar Amod 
Published: March 2016

Photothermal therapy involving nanoparticles is evolving as a promising targeted treatment for cancer. This paper presents the results for the effect of nanoparticle concentration, within a tumor, to control the thermal damage during nanoparticle assisted thermal therapy.
A surface tumor embedded with gold nanoparticles (distributed uniformly) is considered. The thermal damage is evaluated for various nanoparticle concentrations (within the tumor) to identify an optimal concentration of the nanoparticles so as to achieve spatial confinement of the damage to the tumor region. Optical interaction is coupled to the biological heat transfer through Pennes’ bioheat model and Beer’s law. Spatiotemporal thermal damage is simulated through the Arrhenius method. The finite difference implicit method is used to solve the coupled phenomenon.
Results show that there is a specific value of nanoparticle concentration at which it is possible to confine thermal damage to the tumor within a spatial scale of less than 1 mm. This way the healthy tissues surrounding a tumor are safe. This optimum value of nanoparticle concentration (irrespective of tumor diameters) is 0.00001%. This concentration along with irradiation intensity of 1 W/cm2 for irradiation duration of 110 seconds is sufficient to thermally ablate the considered tumors. Novelty of this study is that it presents a combination of the controlling parameters for achieving a high (<1 mm) spatial confinement of the thermal damage. This finding is very much significant from clinical point of view. Clinically it is always desired to attain the therapeutic efficacy with minimal delivery of external agents (nanoparticles in this case) to a patient.
Technical Note: Development and performance of a software tool for quality assurance of online replanning with a conventional Linac or MR‐Linac
Authors: Chen Guang‐Pei , Ahunbay Ergun , Li X. Allen 
Published: March 2016

Purpose:To develop an integrated quality assurance (QA) software tool for online replanning capable of efficiently and automatically checking radiation treatment (RT) planning parameters and gross plan quality, verifying treatment plan data transfer from treatment planning system (TPS) to record and verify (R&V) system, performing a secondary monitor unit (MU) calculation with or without a presence of a magnetic field from MR‐Linac, and validating the delivery record consistency with the plan.Methods:The software tool, named ArtQA, was developed to obtain and compare plan and treatment parameters from both the TPS and the R&V system database. The TPS data are accessed via direct file reading and the R&V data are retrieved via open database connectivity and structured query language. Plan quality is evaluated with both the logical consistency of planning parameters and the achieved dose–volume histograms. Beams in between the TPS and R&V system are matched based on geometry configurations. To consider the effect of a 1.5 T transverse magnetic field from MR‐Linac in the secondary MU calculation, a method based on modified Clarkson integration algorithm was developed and tested for a series of clinical situations.Results:ArtQA has been used in their clinic and can quickly detect inconsistencies and deviations in the entire RT planning process. With the use of the ArtQA tool, the efficiency for plan check including plan quality, data transfer, and delivery check can be improved by at least 60%. The newly developed independent MU calculation tool for MR‐Linac reduces the difference between the plan and calculated MUs by 10%.Conclusions:The software tool ArtQA can be used to perform a comprehensive QA check from planning to delivery with conventional Linac or MR‐Linac and is an essential tool for online replanning where the QA check needs to be performed rapidly.
Effect of Surotomycin, a Novel Cyclic Lipopeptide Antibiotic, on Intestinal Colonization with Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Mice
Authors: Deshpande Abhishek , Hurless Kelly , Cadnum Jennifer L. , Chesnel Laurent , Gao Lihong , Chan Luisa , Kundrapu Sirisha , Polinkovsky Alexander , Donskey Curtis J. 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT

Surotomycin (formerly called CB-183,315) is a novel, orally administered cyclic lipopeptide antibacterial in development for the treatment of
Clostridium difficile
infection (CDI) that has potent activity against vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) but limited activity against Gram-negative bacilli, including
Bacteroides
spp. We used a mouse model to investigate the impact of surotomycin exposure on the microbiome, and to test the consequences of the disruption on colonization by vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing
Klebsiella pneumoniae
(ESBL-KP), in comparison with the effects of oral vancomycin and metronidazole. Mice (8 per group) received saline, vancomycin, metronidazole, or surotomycin through an orogastric tube daily for 5 days and were challenged with 10
5
CFU of VRE or ESBL-KP administered through an orogastric tube on day 2 of treatment. The concentrations of the pathogens in stool were determined during and after treatment by plating on selective media. A second experiment was conducted to determine if the antibiotics would inhibit established VRE colonization. In comparison to controls, oral vancomycin promoted VRE and ESBL-KP overgrowth in stool (8 log
10
to 10 log
10
CFU/g;
P
< 0.001), whereas metronidazole did not (<4 log
10
CFU/g;
P
> 0.5). Surotomycin promoted ESBL-KP overgrowth (>8 log
10
CFU/g;
P
, <0.001 for comparison with saline controls) but not VRE overgrowth. Surotomycin suppressed preexisting VRE colonization, whereas metronidazole and vancomycin did not. These results suggest that treatment of CDI with surotomycin could reduce levels of VRE acquisition and overgrowth from those with agents such as vancomycin and metronidazole. However, surotomycin and vancomycin may promote colonization by antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacilli.
MIC of Delamanid (OPC-67683) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis Clinical Isolates and a Proposed Critical Concentration
Authors: Stinson Kelly , Kurepina Natalia , Venter Amour , Fujiwara Mamoru , Kawasaki Masanori , Timm Juliano , Shashkina Elena , Kreiswirth Barry N. , Liu Yongge , Matsumoto Makoto , Geiter Lawrence 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT

The increasing global burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) requires reliable drug susceptibility testing that accurately characterizes susceptibility and resistance of pathogenic bacteria to effectively treat patients with this deadly disease. Delamanid is an anti-TB agent first approved in the European Union in 2014 for the treatment of pulmonary MDR-TB in adults. Using the agar proportion method, delamanid MIC was determined for 460 isolates: 316 from patients enrolled in a phase 2 global clinical trial, 76 from two phase 2 early bactericidal activity trials conducted in South Africa, and 68 isolates obtained outside clinical trials (45 from Japanese patients and 23 from South African patients). With the exception of two isolates, MICs ranged from 0.001 to 0.05 μg/ml, resulting in an MIC
50
of 0.004 μg/ml and an MIC
90
of 0.012 μg/ml. Various degrees of resistance to other anti-TB drugs did not affect the distribution of MICs, nor did origin of isolates from regions/countries other than South Africa. A critical concentration/breakpoint of 0.2 μg/ml can be used to define susceptible and resistant isolates based on the distribution of MICs and available pharmacokinetic data. Thus, clinical isolates from delamanid-naive patients with tuberculosis have a very low MIC for delamanid and baseline resistance is rare, demonstrating the potential potency of delamanid and supporting its use in an optimized background treatment regimen for MDR-TB.
Adverse Events Lead to Drug Discontinuation More Commonly among Patients Who Receive Nafcillin than among Those Who Receive Oxacillin
Authors: Viehman J. Alexander , Oleksiuk Louise-Marie , Sheridan Kathleen R. , Byers Karin E. , He Peimei , Falcione Bonnie A. , Shields Ryan K. 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT

Nafcillin and oxacillin are used interchangeably in clinical practice, yet few studies have evaluated the safety of these two agents. Our objective was to compare the differential tolerabilities of nafcillin and oxacillin among hospitalized patients. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all patients who received 12 g/day of nafcillin or oxacillin for at least 24 h. Two hundred twenty-four patients were included. Baseline characteristics and comorbidities were similar among patients receiving nafcillin (
n
= 160) and those receiving oxacillin (
n
= 64). Hypokalemia, defined as a potassium level of ≤3.3 mmol/liter or ≤2.9 mmol/liter or as a ≥0.5-mmol/liter decrease from the baseline level, occurred more frequently among patients who received nafcillin (51%, 20%, and 56%, respectively) than among those who received oxacillin (17%, 3%, and 34%, respectively;
P
< 0.0001,
P
= 0.0008, and
P
= 0.005, respectively). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, receipt of nafcillin was an independent predictor of severe hypokalemia (odds ratio [OR] = 6.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46 to 31.2;
P
= 0.02). Rates of hepatotoxicity did not differ between groups; however, acute kidney injury occurred more commonly with nafcillin than with oxacillin (18% versus 6%;
P
= 0.03). Overall, 18% of patients who received nafcillin discontinued therapy prematurely due to adverse events, compared to 2% of patients who received oxacillin (
P
= 0.0004). Nafcillin treatment is associated with higher rates of adverse events and treatment discontinuation than oxacillin among hospitalized adult patients. These findings have important implications for patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings, particularly patients who require long-term therapy and cannot be monitored routinely. Future randomized controlled studies evaluating the efficacy, costs, and tolerability of nafcillin versus oxacillin are warranted.
Binding of CFA/I Pili of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli to Asialo-GM1 Is Mediated by the Minor Pilin CfaE
Authors: Madhavan T. P. Vipin , Riches James D. , Scanlon Martin J. , Ulett Glen C. , Sakellaris Harry 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT

CFA/I pili are representatives of a large family of related pili that mediate the adherence of enterotoxigenic
Escherichia coli
to intestinal epithelial cells. They are assembled via the alternate chaperone-usher pathway and consist of two subunits, CfaB, which makes up the pilus shaft and a single pilus tip-associated subunit, CfaE. The current model of pilus-mediated adherence proposes that CFA/I has two distinct binding activities; the CfaE subunit is responsible for binding to receptors of unknown structure on erythrocyte and intestinal epithelial cell surfaces, while CfaB binds to various glycosphingolipids, including asialo-GM1. In this report, we present two independent lines of evidence that, contrary to the existing model, CfaB does not bind to asialo-GM1 independently of CfaE. Neither purified CfaB subunits nor CfaB assembled into pili bind to asialo-GM1. Instead, we demonstrate that binding activity toward asialo-GM1 resides in CfaE and this is essential for pilus binding to Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells. We conclude that the binding activities of CFA/I pili for asialo-GM1, erythrocytes, and intestinal cells are inseparable, require the same amino acid residues in CfaE, and therefore depend on the same or very similar binding mechanisms.
The Histidine Kinase BinK Is a Negative Regulator of Biofilm Formation and Squid Colonization
Authors: Brooks John F. , Mandel Mark J. 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT

Bacterial colonization of animal epithelial tissue is a dynamic process that relies on precise molecular communication. Colonization of
Euprymna scolopes
bobtail squid by
Vibrio fischeri
bacteria requires bacterial aggregation in host mucus as the symbiont transitions from a planktonic lifestyle in seawater to a biofilm-associated state in the host. We have identified a gene,
binK
(biofilm inhibitor kinase; VF_A0360), which encodes an orphan hybrid histidine kinase that negatively regulates the
V. fischeri
symbiotic biofilm (Syp)
in vivo
and
in vitro
. We identified
binK
mutants as exhibiting a colonization advantage in a global genetic screen, a phenotype that we confirmed in controlled competition experiments. Bacterial biofilm aggregates in the host are larger in strains lacking BinK, whereas overexpression of BinK suppresses biofilm formation and squid colonization. Signaling through BinK is required for temperature modulation of biofilm formation at 28°C. Furthermore, we present evidence that BinK acts upstream of SypG, the σ
54
-dependent transcriptional regulator of the
syp
biofilm locus. The BinK effects are dependent on intact signaling in the RscS-Syp biofilm pathway. Therefore, we propose that BinK antagonizes the signal from RscS and serves as an integral component in
V. fischeri
biofilm regulation.

IMPORTANCE
Bacterial lifestyle transitions underlie the colonization of animal hosts from environmental reservoirs. Formation of matrix-enclosed, surface-associated aggregates (biofilms) is common in beneficial and pathogenic associations, but investigating the genetic basis of biofilm development in live animal hosts remains a significant challenge. Using the bobtail squid light organ as a model, we analyzed putative colonization factors and identified a histidine kinase that negatively regulates biofilm formation at the host interface. This work reveals a novel
in vivo
biofilm regulator that influences the transition of bacteria from their planktonic state in seawater to tight aggregates of cells in the host. The study enriches our understanding of biofilm regulation and beneficial colonization by an animal's microbiome.
Biofilms 2015: Multidisciplinary Approaches Shed Light into Microbial Life on Surfaces
Authors: Visick Karen L. , Schembri Mark A. , Yildiz Fitnat , Ghigo Jean-Marc 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT
The 7th ASM Conference on Biofilms was held in Chicago, Illinois, from 24 to 29 October 2015. The conference provided an international forum for biofilm researchers across academic and industry platforms, and from different scientific disciplines, to present and discuss new findings and ideas. The meeting covered a wide range of topics, spanning environmental sciences, applied biology, evolution, ecology, physiology, and molecular biology of the biofilm lifestyle. This report summarizes the presentations with regard to emerging biofilm-related themes.
Analysis of the sex ratio of reported gonorrhoea incidence in Shenzhen, China
Authors: Xiong Mingzhou , Lan Lina , Feng Tiejian , Zhao Guanglu , Wang Feng , Hong Fuchang , Wu Xiaobing , Zhang Chunlai , Wen Lizhang , Liu Aizhong , Best John McCulloch , Tang Weiming 
Published: March 2016

ObjectiveTo assess the clinical process of gonorrhoea diagnosis and report in China, and to determine the difference of sex ratio between reported incidence based on reporting data and true diagnosis rate based on reference tests of gonorrhoea.SettingA total of 26 dermatology and sexually transmitted disease (STD) departments, 34 obstetrics-gynaecology clinics and 28 urology outpatient clinics selected from 34 hospitals of Shenzhen regarded as our study sites.ParticipantsA total of 2754 participants were recruited in this study, and 2534 participants completed the questionnaire survey and provided genital tract secretion specimens. There were 1106 male and 1428 female participants. Eligible participants were patients who presented for outpatient STD care at the selected clinics for the first time in October 2012 were at least 18 years old, and were able to give informed consent.Outcome measuresUntested rate, true-positive rate, false-negative rate and unreported rate of gonorrhoea, as well as reported gonorrhoea incidence sex ratio and true diagnosis sex ratio were calculated and used to describe the results.Results2534 participants were enrolled in the study. The untested rate of gonorrhoea among females was significantly higher than that among males (female 88.1%, male 68.3%, p=0.001). The male-to-female sex ratios of untested rate, true-positive rate, false-negative rate and unreported rate were 1:1.3, 1.2:1, 1:1.6 and 1:1.4, respectively. The reported gonorrhoea incidence sex ratio of new diagnosed gonorrhoea was 19.8:1 (male vs female: 87/1106 vs 5/1420), while the true diagnosis sex ratio was 2.5:1 (male vs female: 161/1106 vs 84/1420). These data indicate that the sex ratio of reported gonorrhoea incidence has been overestimated by a factor of 7.9 (19.8/2.5).ConclusionsWe found the current reported gonorrhoea incidence and sex ratios to be inaccurate due to underestimations of gonorrhoea incidence, especially among women.
Artificialtransfat in popular foods in 2012 and in 2014: a market basket investigation in six European countries
Authors: Stender Steen , Astrup Arne , Dyerberg Jørn 
Published: March 2016

ObjectiveTo minimise the intake of industrially producedtransfat (I-TF) and thereby decrease the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), nearly all European countries rely on food producers to voluntarily reduce the I-TF content in food. The objective of this study was to monitor the change in presence of I-TF in biscuits/cakes/wafers in six countries in South-eastern Europe from 2012 to 2014, including two members of the European Union (Slovenia and Croatia).DesignThree large supermarkets were visited in each of the six capitals in 2012. Pre-packaged biscuits/cakes/wafers were bought if the products contained more than 15 g of total fat per 100 g of product and if partially hydrogenated oil or a similar term was disclosed at the beginning of the ingredients list. These same supermarkets were revisited in 2014 and the same collection procedure was followed. All foods were subsequently analysed for total fat andtransfat in the same laboratory.ResultsThe number of packages bought in the six countries taken together was 266 in 2012 and 643 in 2014. Some were identical, and therefore only 226 were analysed in 2012 and 434 in 2014. Packages with less than 2% of fat from I-TF went up from 69 to 235, while products with more than 2% (illegal in Denmark) doubled from an average of 33 to an average of 68 products for the six countries, with considerable variation across countries. The per cent of I-TF in total fat decreased slightly, from a mean (SD) of 22 (13) in 2012 to 18 (9) in 2014.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that voluntary reduction of I-TF in foods with high amounts is an ineffective strategy in several European countries. Alternative strategies both within and outside the European Union are necessary to protect all subgroups of the populations against an increased risk of CHD.
Serological Investigation of Pneumonia as It Presents to the Physician’s Office
Authors: Langille DB , Yates L , Marrie TJ 
Published: March 2016

Purpose: To define the etiology of pneumonia, using a battery of serological tests, among patients presenting to physicians’ offices in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia from July 2, 1989 to July 1, 1990.Methods: Patients presenting to their physician’s office with symptoms suggestive of pneumonia were invited to participate in the study by completing a questionnaire, having a chest radiograph and providing acute and convalescent phase serum samples. These serum samples were tested for antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Coxiella burnetii, Legionella pneumophila, adenovirus, and influenza viruses A and B. Some of the samples were tested for antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae.Results: Seventy‐five of the inception cohort of 203 patients had a chest radiograph compatible with pneumonia, a completed questionnaire and acute and convalescent phase serum samples. There were 39 females and 36 males with a mean age of 41.7 years. Twenty‐six (35%) were admitted to hospital. The mortality rate was 3%. Forty‐five per cent had a diagnosis made by serology: M pneumoniae, 22 (29%); influenza A virus, five (7%); C burnetii, L pneumophila, adenovirus, two (3%) each.Conclusions: While it is not possible to generalize about these findings because of ascertainment bias, the data suggest that M pneumoniae is a common cause of pneumonia presenting to a physician’s office and that mortality is low in this group of patients.