Co-evolution, opportunity seeking and institutional change: Entrepreneurship and the Indian telecommunications industry 1923-2009

"This is an Author's Original Manuscript of an article submitted for consideration in Business History [copyright Taylor & Francis]; Business History is available online at http://www.tandfonline.com/." 10.1080/00076791.2012.687538In this paper, we demonstrate the importance for entrepreneurship of historical contexts and processes, and the co-evolution of institutions, practices, discourses and cultural norms. Drawing on discourse and institutional theories, we develop a model of the entrepreneurial field, and apply this in analysing the rise to global prominence of the Indian telecommunications industry. We draw on entrepreneurial life histories to show how various discourses and discursive processes ultimately worked to generate change and the creation of new business opportunities. We propose that entrepreneurship involves more than individual acts of business creation, but also implies collective endeavours to shape the future direction of the entrepreneurial field

Persistence of Fimbrial Tissue on the Ovarian Surface Following Salpingectomy

BACKGROUND: Salpingectomy is recommended as a risk-reducing strategy for epithelial tubo-ovarian cancer. The gold standard procedure is complete tubal excision. OBJECTIVE: To assess the presence of residual fimbrial/tubal tissue on ovarian surfaces following salpingectomy. DESIGN: Prospective analysis of patients undergoing salpingo-oophorectomy +/- hysterectomy for benign indications, early cervical cancer or low risk endometrial cancer at a UK National Health Service Trust. Salpingectomy +/- hysterectomy was performed initially, followed by oophorectomy within the same operation. Separately retrieved tubes and ovaries were serially sectioned and completely examined histologically. The main outcome measure was histologically identified fimbrial/ tubal tissue on ovarian surface. Chi-square/Fisher's exact tests evaluated categorical variables (SPSS-23). RESULTS: 25 consecutive cases (mean age= 54.8 years (SD=5.0), comprising 41 adnexae (9= unilateral, 16= bilateral) were analysed. 17 (68.0%), 5 (20.0%) and 3 (12.0%), procedures were performed by consultant gynaecologists, subspecialty/specialist trainees and consultant gynaecological oncologists respectively. 12/25 (48.0%) were laparoscopic and 13/25 (52.0%) involved laparotomy. 4/25 (16.0%, CI: 4.5%, 36.1%) patients or 4/41 (9.8%, CI: 2.7%, 23.1%) adnexae showed residual microscopic fimbrial tissue on the ovarian surface. Tubes/ ovaries were free of adhesions in 23 cases. Two cases had dense adnexal adhesions but neither had residual fimbrial tissue on the ovary. Residual fimbrial tissue was not significantly associated with surgical route or experience; (consultant= 3/20 (15%), trainee= 1/5 (20%), p=1.0). CONCLUSION: Residual fimbrial tissue remains on the ovary following salpingectomy in a significant proportion of cases and could impact the level of risk-reduction obtained

Use of alternative and complementary medicine in menopause

Objectives: To review the clinical evidence available for the treatment of menopausal symptoms with alternative and complementary medicine. Methods: The MEDLINE, PREMEDLINE and COCHRANE electronic databases for the years 1980–2002 were searched for articles concerning soy products, black cohosh, dong quai, acupuncture, ginseng and evening primrose oil. Studies pertaining to menopausal vasomotor symptoms, lipid profiles and bone mineral densities of postmenopausal women were included. The data from clinical trials were reviewed. Results: Soy isoflavones slightly decrease total cholesterol and LDL levels. The clinical significance of this small change is yet to be determined. The synthetic isoflavone derivative ipriflavone increases bone mineral density in healthy peri‐ and postmenopausal women with moderate bone mineral densities. Although earlier reports have claimed that soy is beneficial for the improvement of vasomotor symptoms, recent data do not support this claim. There are insufficient data on the other alternative therapies for treating menopausal symptoms at this time. Conclusion: Alternative and complementary medicine may play a role in the management of menopause, however, well‐designed large studies are still needed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135146/1/ijgo195.pd

The vaginal microbiota associates with the regression of untreated cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 lesions

Emerging evidence suggests associations between the vaginal microbiota (VMB) composition, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN); however, causal inference remains uncertain. Here, we use bacterial DNA sequencing from serially collected vaginal samples from a cohort of 87 adolescent and young women aged 16–26 years with histologically confirmed, untreated CIN2 lesions to determine whether VMB composition affects rates of regression over 24 months. We show that women with a Lactobacillus-dominant microbiome at baseline are more likely to have regressive disease at 12 months. Lactobacillus spp. depletion and presence of specific anaerobic taxa including Megasphaera, Prevotella timonensis and Gardnerella vaginalis are associated with CIN2 persistence and slower regression. These findings suggest that VMB composition may be a future useful biomarker in predicting disease outcome and tailoring surveillance, whilst it may offer rational targets for the development of new prevention and treatment strategies

The ethical ambivalence of resistant violence: notes from postcolonial south Asia

In the face of mounting militarism in south Asia, this essay turns to anti-state, ‘liberatory’ movements in the region that employ violence to achieve their political aims. It explores some of the ethical quandaries that arise from the embrace of such violence, particularly for feminists for whom political violence and militarism is today a moot point. Feminist responses towards resistant political violence have, however, been less straightforward than towards the violence of the state, suggesting a more ambivalent ethical position towards the former than the latter. The nature of this ambivalence can be located in a postcolonial feminist ethics that is conceptually committed to the use of political violence in certain, albeit exceptional circumstances on the basis of the ethical ends that this violence (as opposed to other oppressive violence) serves. In opening up this ethical ambivalence – or the ethics of ambiguity, as Simone de Beauvoir says – to interrogation and reflection, I underscore the difficulties involved in ethically discriminating between forms of violence, especially when we consider the manner in which such distinctions rely on and reproduce gendered modes of power. This raises particular problems for current feminist appraisals of resistant political violence as an expression of women's empowerment and ‘agency’

Les perspectives changeantes de la gestion hospitalière

Compte tenu des changements profonds qui affectent la prestation des services sanitaires et sociaux au Canada, la gestion hospitalière doit tendre à la protection et à la valorisation de l'établissement en faveur de son propriétaire (c.-à-d. le contribuable) et pouvoir être comptable de son fonctionnement envers la collectivité desservie. Sur la base de la documentation existante, les auteurs suggèrent que le rôle et les responsabilités du conseil d'administration d'un établissement de santé se focalisent autour de sept activités fondamentales: définition de la mission, de la philosophie et des orientations de l'organisme; choix et évaluation du chef de la direction; établissement d'un code d'éthique; haute qualité des soins et de la prestation de services; mobilisation des ressources en faveur de l'organisme et utilisation avisée des mêmes; intégration de l'organisme à son milieu; auto-évaluation, formation et perfectionnement. Afin de jouer pleinement leur rôle, les conseils hospitaliers devront nouer des liens plus directs avec la collectivité qu'ils servent et s'initier à prendre leurs décisions au vu et au su de la population. </jats:p

Changing Perspectives on Hospital Governance

In the light of fundamental changes in the delivery of health and social services in Canada, hospital governance must be concerned with protection and enhancement of the organization on behalf of the owner (i.e., taxpayer) as well as accountability to the community it was established to serve. Based on a review of current literature, the authors suggest that the roles and responsibilities of a hospital board entail seven major activities: establish the mission, philosophy and future directions of the institution; choose and evaluate the chief executive officer; establish the ethical principles for the organization; ensure high quality care and services; attract resources to the institution and ensure their effective use; integrate the organization with its environment; and undertake its own self-evaluation, education and development. To play these roles effectively, hospital boards will need to develop more direct links with their communities and learn to share decision making with them. </jats:p