Knowledge management : why do we need it for corporates

This article gives a brief introduction about Knowledge Management (KM), its need, definition, components, KM assets, challenges and processes of KM initiative at any organisation. It also provides a narration on how the KM initiative has been adopted at ICICI OneSource, to support the achievement of its Business Process Outsourcing objectives. Both knowledge sharing as well as reuse need to be encouraged and recognized at the individual employee level as well as the company level. This is best done by measuring and rewarding knowledgeperformance. Sustained strategic commitment and a corporate culture that is conducive to knowledge-performance are vital for success in Knowledge Management. The paper concludes with suggestions for the implication for policy and future practices

THE EFFECTS OF TRADE PROMOTION ON CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS

Canadian agricultural trade promotion expenditures have dramatically increased from C$.4 million in 1969/70 to C$26.5 million in 1981/82. To evaluate the effect of these expenditures on agricultural exports an econometric analysis is presented in this study. The extended distributed lag model for export demand is developed and estimated using an iterative autoregressive least squares with instrumental variable (IALSI) method of estimation. The results reveal that the trade promotion programs (aggregate expenditure levels) have had a statistically significant effect on agricultural exports. The analysis of dynamic multipliers indicates that the effect of trade promotion expenditure on export levels is likely to decline gradually and last for about a five-year period. Also, the real export demand for aggregate agricultural products is found close to unitary elastic with respect to the real export price variable.International Relations/Trade,

Carbapenem resistance profile amongst Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in a tertiary care hospital in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra

Introduction: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), specially three species of the Enterobacteriaceae family, the Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Escherichia have developed resistance to a group of antibiotics called “Carbapenems”, which are often used as the last line of treatment when other antibiotics are not effective in treating infections caused by them. Aim of the study: The present study was carried out to detect carbapenem resistance profile among Escherichia coli & Klebsiella pneumoniae. Materials & Methods: Cultures were obtained from consecutive specimens like urine, pus, sputum and blood collected from indoor as well as outdoor patients of our hospital. Specimens were processed for culture and identification according to standard techniques. Cultures yielding only Escherichia coli & Klebsiella pneumoniae were included in the study. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on Mueller-Hinton agar plates by the standard Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method recommended by CLSI against imipenem and meropem. The diameters of zone of inhibition were recorded as sensitive, resistant or intermediate sensitive according to the CLSI criteria. Results & Observations: Total 206 isolates were surveyed. Urine & pus were the commonest specimens which isolated Escherichia coli & Klebsiella pneumoniae. 58.82% & 8.82% E. coli were resistant to meropenem & imipenem respectively. Similarly, 53.84% & 30.76% K. pneumoniae were resistant to meropenem & imipenem respectively. Conclusion: K. pneumoniae and E. coli are commonly encountered pathogens from clinical specimens and exhibit resistance to carbapenems. E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates showed higher resistance to meropenem (58.82% and 53.84%, respectively) as compared to imipenem (8.82% and 30.76% respectively). K. pneumoniae shows greater resistance to carbapenems as compared to E. coli

Access and Usage of E-Journals by Research Scholars in National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, Odisha: A Case Study

The purpose of this study is to investigate different aspects such as awareness, access and usage of e-journals among the research scholars at Biju Patnaik Central Library (BPCL) of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, Odisha. The scope of this paper limits to: (i) E-Resources: Only e-Journal is considered among the various types of e-resources subscribed by library; (ii) Respondents: Only Research scholars are taken into consideration; and (iii) Questionnaires: 150 questionnaires collected from 700 research scholars. This paper also reveals the problems and suggests some solutions. The study shows that User Education Programmes (UEP), stable high-speed internet supply and an adequate number of computers should be provided to ensure constant access that can effectively enhance the usage of e-journals

Research Data Management: A proposed framework to boost research in Higher Educational Institutes

This paper attempts to present a brief overview of several Research Data Management (RDM) issues and a detailed literature review regarding the RDM aspects adopted in libraries globally. Furthermore, it will describe several tendencies concerning the management of repository tools for research data, as well as the challenges in implementing the RDM. The proper planned training and skill development for all stakeholders by mentors to train both staff and users are some of the issues that need to be considered to enhance the RDM process. An effort will be also made to present the suitable policies and workflows along with the adoption of best practices in RDM, so as to boost the research process in an organisation. This study will showcase the implementation of RDM processes in the Higher Educational Institute of India, referring particularly to the Central Library @ NIT Rourkela in Odisha, India with a proposed framework. Finally, this study will also propose an area of opportunities that can boost research activities in the Institute

FERTILIZER DEMAND FUNCTIONS FOR FIVE CROPS IN THE UNITED STATES

Crop Production/Industries,

Gonadotropin treatment augments postnatal oogenesis and primordial follicle assembly in adult mouse ovaries?

BACKGROUND: Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) exerts action on both germline and somatic compartment in both ovary and testis although FSH receptors (FSHR) are localized only on the somatic cells namely granulosa cells of growing follicles and Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules. High levels of FSH in females are associated with poor ovarian reserve, ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome etc. and at the same time FSH acts as a survival factor during in vitro organotypic culture of ovarian cortical strips. Thus a further understanding of FSH action on the ovary is essential. We have earlier reported presence of pluripotent very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs express Oct-4A in addition to other pluripotent markers) and their immediate descendants ‘progenitors’ ovarian germ stem cells (OGSCs express Oct-4B in addition to other germ cell markers) in ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) in various mammalian species including mice, rabbit, monkey, sheep and human. Present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) on adult mice ovaries with a focus on VSELs, OGSCs, postnatal oogenesis and primordial follicle assembly. METHODS: Ovaries were collected from adult mice during different stages of estrus cycle and after 2 and 7 days of PMSG (5 IU) treatment to study histo-architecture and expression for FSHR, pluripotent stem cells , meiosis and germ cell specific markers. RESULTS: PMSG treatment resulted in increased FSHR and proliferation as indicated by increased FSHR and PCNA immunostaining in OSE and oocytes of primordial follicles (PF) besides the granulosa cells of large antral follicles. Small 1–2 regions of multilayered OSE invariably associated with a cohort of PF during estrus stage in control ovary were increased to 5–8 regions after PMSG treatment. This was associated with an increase in pluripotent transcripts (Oct-4A, Nanog), meiosis (Scp-3) and germ cells (Oct-4B, Mvh) specific markers. MVH showed positive immuno staining on germ cell nest-like clusters and at places primordial follicles appeared connected through oocytes. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study show that gonadotropin (PMSG) treatment to adult mouse leads to increased pluripotent stem cell activity in the ovaries, associated with increased meiosis, appearance of several cohorts of PF and their assembly in close proximity of OSE. This was found associated with the presence of germ cell nests and cytoplasmic continuity of oocytes in PF. We have earlier reported that pluripotent ovarian stem cells in the adult mammalian ovary are the VSELs which give rise to slightly differentiated OGSCs. Thus we propose that gonadotropin through its action on pluripotent VSELs augments neo-oogenesis and PF assembly in adult mouse ovaries

Follicle stimulating hormone modulates ovarian stem cells through alternately spliced receptor variant FSH-R3

BACKGROUND: We have earlier reported that follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) modulates ovarian stem cells which include pluripotent, very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) and their immediate descendants ‘progenitors’ termed ovarian germ stem cells (OGSCs), lodged in adult mammalian ovarian surface epithelium (OSE). FSH may exert pleiotropic actions through its alternatively spliced receptor isoforms. Four isoforms of FSH receptors (FSHR) are reported in literature of which FSH-R1 and FSH-R3 have biological activity. Present study was undertaken to identify FSHR isoforms mediating FSH action on ovarian stem cells, using sheep OSE cells culture as the study model. METHODS: Cultures of sheep OSE cells (a mix of epithelial cells, VSELs, OGSCs and few contaminating red blood cells) were established with and without FSH 5IU/ml treatment. Effect of FSH treatment on self-renewal of VSELs and their differentiation into OGSCs was studied after 15 hrs by qRT-PCR using markers specific for VSELs (Oct-4A, Sox-2) and OGSCs (Oct-4). FSH receptors and its specific transcripts (R1 and R3) were studied after 3 and 15 hrs of FSH treatment by immunolocalization, in situ hybridization and qRT-PCR. FSHR and OCT-4 were also immuno-localized on sheep ovarian sections, in vitro matured follicles and early embryos. RESULTS: FSH treatment resulted in increased stem cells self-renewal and clonal expansion evident by the appearance of stem cell clusters. FSH receptors were expressed on ovarian stem cells whereas the epithelial cells were distinctly negative. An increase in R3 mRNA transcripts was noted after 3 hrs of FSH treatment and was reduced to basal levels by 15 hrs, whereas R1 transcript expression remained unaffected. Both FSHR and OCT-4 were immuno-localized in nuclei of stem cells, showed nuclear or ooplasmic localization in oocytes of primordial follicles and in cytoplasm of granulosa cells in growing follicles. CONCLUSIONS: FSH modulates ovarian stem cells via FSH-R3 to undergo potential self-renewal, clonal expansion as ‘cysts’ and differentiation into oocytes. OCT-4 and FSHR proteins (required initially to maintain pluripotent state of VSELs and for FSH action respectively) gradually shift from nuclei to cytoplasm of developing oocytes and are later possibly removed by surrounding granulosa cells as the oocyte prepares itself for fertilization