: In radiotherapy, accuracy in dose estimation of dose calculation methods is critical. The influence of deformity on radiation dose calculations derived by planning system is evaluated in present ...study. The goal of study was to create a low-cost inhomogeneous phantom for measuring absorbed dose using an Ionisation chamber and Gafchromic film, which was validated using treatment planning system (TPS) dose outcome.
: The central axis dose calculations were computed using Pencil Beam Convolution algorithm (PBC), Collapsed Cone Convolution (CCC) and Monte Carlo (MC) algorithm in the Monaco treatment planning system using an In-house phantom (20 × 20 × 20cm
) made up of acrylic sheet containing water and inhomogeneous material wooden powder equivalent to lung. Phantom was scanned in Computed Tomography (CT) scanner and image set was sent to the planning workstation. The depth dose evaluations were performed using ionization chamber and Gafchromic film with same beam settings and monitor units in every setup. Following that, the calculated doses obtained from TPS and measured depth doses were compared.
: The results was reported for photon energies 6MV, 10MV, 15MV, 6FFF and 10FFF at varying field sizes of 4 × 4 cm
, 5 × 5 cm
, 10 × 10 cm
, and 15 × 15 cm
. MC maximum dose variation predicted was 2.06% in 15MV of measured chamber dose and -2.06% of measured gafchromic film dose in 6MVFFF. CCC maximum dose variation predicted was 2.68% of measured chamber dose in 6MV and 3.31% of measured gafchromic film dose in 6MV whereas PB maximum dose variation predicted was -5.94% in 15MV of measured chamber dose and -11.6% of measured gafchromic film dose in 6MVFFF.
: Low-cost in-house phantoms can be utilised to assess point and planar doses during patient-specific quality assurance in centres that don't have accessibility to phantoms due to the high cost of commercially available tools.
Parotid infection/abscess leading to facial nerve palsy is a rare presentation. Normally, malignant parotid masses are associated with facial nerve palsy. We present a case of parotitis which was ...complicated by facial nerve dysfunction and recovered well with conservative treatment.
The concept of market-focused strategic flexibility is developed. It begins with a review of the historical perspectives of strategic flexibility. To support the conceptualization, a theoretical ...schema that considers market-focused strategic flexibility as conceptually rooted in capabilities theory, resource-based views of the firm, and options is offered. With the conceptualization in place, an integrative model that explicates the mediating role of market-focused strategic flexibility in marketing strategy frameworks is proposed. Propositions are developed relating market-driven and driving orientations to market-focused strategic flexibility with consideration for how turbulent macro environments modify the relationship. In addition, propositions are offered regarding outcomes of market-focused strategic flexibility under conditions of macro environmental turbulence.
In the wake of the current financial crises triggered by risky mortgage-backed securities, the question of ethics and risk-taking is once again at the front and center for both practitioners and ...academics. Although risk-taking is considered an integral part of strategic decision-making, sometimes firms could be propelled to take risks driven by reasons other than calculated strategic choices. The authors argue that a firm's risk-taking propensity is impacted by its ethical climate (egoistic or benevolent) and its emphasis on output control to manage its marketing function. The firm's long-term orientation is argued to moderate the control–risk propensity relationship. The authors also extend research on risk and performance and argue that the association of risk-taking propensity and firm performance is contingent on the ownership (publicly traded versus privately held) structure of the firm. Based on survey data from a sample of manufacturing industries in the United States, the results show significant impact of ethical climate and marketing output control on a firm's risk-taking propensity; also risk-taking propensity shows a stronger association with firm performance in privately held firms than in publicly traded firms.
Haemangioma Pinna- A rare case report Singh, Harjitpal; Ranot, Bharti; Saini, Amit ...
IP Journal of Otorhinolaryngology and Allied Science,
1/2022, Letnik:
4, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Odprti dostop
Haemangioma is a benign vascular soft tissue tumor which is compressible and nonpulsatile mass it may be non-blanching at times (as in the present case). Such benign vascular lesions frequently occur ...in the head and neck, approximately 80% are found in these areas. But they are very rare to be found on pinna. In our case, it was excised surgically on histolopathological examination only the diagnosis was made.
Objective: To investigate the feasibility of transcanal endoscopic myringoplasty in the hand of young beginner surgeons who had just completed the residency programme. Methods: In a three year period ...(August 2012 to August 2015), 44 ears in 42 patients were operated upon by a beginner surgeon through the transcanal endoscopic approach in a subdistrict level hospital located in the north western ranges of the Himalayan region. Results: Of the 42 patient, 19 were male and 23 female. The mean age was 26.23 years (range: 15-47 years). In 40 ears, complete perforation closure was achieved at six months (success rate: 90.9％). The mean air conduction PTA preoperatively was 40.84 dB HL and improved to 28.06 dB HL postoperatively (p < .001). The mean AB gap preoperatively was 22.40 dB, which improved to 9.1 dB postoperatively (p < .001). Conclusion: Endoscopic transcanal myringoplasty is safe and reliable even in young beginners' hands. Surgeons can consider endoscopic approach early in their careers without the fear of learning curve. The cost of endoscopic equipment is about one tenth as compared to open approach under a operating microscope, and an added advantage.
Excessive fluoride concentration (>1.5 mg/L) in water adversely affects human teeth and bones. The present study focuses on the development of a fluoride adsorbentvia wet chemical method, by treating ...activated carbon and CaO (derived from rice straw and egg shell respectively) with alum. The prepared adsorbents were characterized for various physico-chemical parameters and fluoride adsorption test. The optimized composite with highest fluoride adsorption capacity was further subjected to batch adsorption study. The adsorbent followed second order kinetic model with intra-particle diffusion revealing that the adsorption was controlled by pore diffusion along with the other process, i.e. electrostatic interaction between opposite charges. This has been explained by a mechanism which in turn is supported by XPS data. Langmuir isotherm fitted well with experimental data suggesting homogenous and monolayer adsorption of fluoride. The adsorption capacity obtained from Langmuir isotherm model is 48.78 mg/g. Thus the adsorbent is highly effective in removing fluoride from the initial concentration of 10 ppm to less than 0.2 ppm which is safe for drinking purpose.
Display omitted
•Alum impregnated CaO/activated carbon efficiently adsorbs fluoride at pH 6.•Intra particle diffusion model supports pore diffusion along with other processes.•Temkin Isotherm reveals physical adsorption due to electrostatic interaction.•Adsorption capacity obtained from Langmuir isotherm model is 48.78 mg/g at 300 K.•Adsorption is thermally spontaneous & least affected by other anions except CO3−2.
E-commerce not only has tremendous potential for growth but also poses unique challenges for both incumbents and new entrants. By examining drivers of firm performance in e-commerce from a ...capabilities perspective, the authors conceptualize three firm capabilities that are critical for superior firm performance in e-commerce: information technology capability, strategic flexibility, and trust-building capability. The extent and nature of market orientation is conceptualized as a platform for leveraging e-commerce capabilities. The authors test the effects of e-commerce capabilities on performance (e.g., relative profits, sales, return on investment) using data from 122 e-brokerage service providers. The results indicate that information technology capability and strategic flexibility affect performance given the right market orientation. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
A large proportion of firms that adopt customer relationship management (CRM) technology find it challenging to integrate CRM technology into their core marketing processes and utilize CRM ...strategically to appreciably improve their performance. The authors conceptualize a model to understand the drivers of superior CRM performance after CRM technology has been adopted by a firm and examine strategic utilization of CRM technology as driven by user acceptance and proficiency in the form of employee buy-in and expertise. Top management championship practices, employee information technology (IT) skills, and CRM knowledge are identified and examined as key building blocks toward strategic utilization. The empirical test of the conceptual model is based on a mail survey of North American firms that have adopted information technology-based CRM systems. The results, based on random effects model, show that strategic utilization of CRM technology leads to higher performance when there is an emphasis on using it to manage business-to-business rather than business-to-consumer relationships, user expertise (but not buy-in) impacts CRM performance through strategic utilization, and top management championship practices, CRM knowledge, and employee IT skills impact strategic utilization through buy-in and expertise.
Little is known about how various strategic orientation dimensions determine market orientation. The authors identify four key dimensions of a firm's strategic orientation as critical antecedents to ...market orientation: the firm's aggressiveness, its future orientation, the extent of marketing formalization, and risk proclivity. Moderating effects of two environmental forces, competitive intensity and technology turbulence, are also considered in light of their relationship with various dimensions of strategic orientation and market orientation. Using a survey with firms spanning multiple industries, the proposed effects are tested with latent class analysis with multiple regimes. The results, based on an optimal two-regime solution, show that that although market orientation is significantly impacted by these strategic orientation dimensions, the pattern of influence differs based on a firm's membership in one of two regimes.
► Tests market orientation’s strategic antecedents: aggressiveness, future orientation, formalization, risk proclivity. ► Moderating effects of competitive intensity and technology turbulence are also examined. ► Using survey data from firms in multiple industries the effects are tested with latent class analysis with multiple regimes. ► Results show heterogeneity exists between firms; effects on market orientation differ between the two regimes identified.
PDF
