Corporate governance attributes, firm characteristics and the level of corporate disclosure: Evidence from the Indian listed firms

This study investigates the association between firm characteristics, corporate governance attributes and the level of corporate disclosure of listed firms in India. The research paper has been based on a sample of 60 firms listed in the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) / National Stock Exchange (NSE) during the study period from 2000-01 to 2009-10. The study has used the Standard & Poor (2008) model for measuring the level of corporate disclosure. To examine the association between explanatory variables and the level of corporate disclosure, multiple regression model has been used. The results suggest a positive relationship between board size, ratio of audit committee members to total board members, family control, CEO duality, firm size, profitability, liquidity and the extent of corporate disclosure. However, the degree of corporate disclosure is negatively related to board composition, leverage and age of the firm

ADVANCEMENTS IN NON-INVASIVE VENTILATION TECHNIQUES FOR MANAGING ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW.

Acute respiratory failure (ARF) presents a significant clinical challenge, often necessitating invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has emerged as a valuable alternative, but recent innovations and advancements in NIV strategies warrant exploration to optimize its clinical utility. The review aims to synthesize recent innovations in NIV strategies for the management of ARF, assess their clinical applications and efficacy, discuss challenges, and outline future directions for research and clinical practice. Recent advancements in NIV devices, interfaces, and ventilation modes have enhanced patient comfort, improved outcomes, and expanded the applicability of NIV across various clinical settings. Smart ventilation systems driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms, portable and wearable NIV devices, and the integration of telemedicine have revolutionized the delivery of respiratory support. Clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of NIV in specific populations, such as COPD exacerbations, cardiogenic pulmonary edema, and COVID-19 pneumonia, further solidifying its role in respiratory care. Future research in NIV is focused on refining personalized ventilation strategies, integrating NIV with other therapeutic modalities, and developing next-generation ventilators capable of real-time adaptation to patient needs. These advancements hold promise for improving outcomes, enhancing the quality of care, and reducing the burden of respiratory failure. The outcomes of this review have implications for clinical policy and development, highlighting the importance of incorporating recent innovations in NIV into clinical practice guidelines and protocols. Healthcare providers should remain abreast of technological advancements and evidence-based practices to optimize the management of ARF and improve patient outcomes

Isolation of a cdc28 mutation that abrogates the dependence of S phase on completion of M phase of the budding yeast cell cycle

We have isolated a mutation in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisisae CDC28 gene that allows cdc13 cells, carrying damaged DNA, to continue with the cell division cycle. While cdc13 mutant cells are arrested as largebudded cells at the nonpermissive temperature 37°C, the cdc13 cdc28 double mutant culture showed cells with one or more buds, most of which showed apical growth. The additional buds emerged without the intervening steps of nuclear division and cell separation. We suggest that the cdc28 mutation abrogates a checkpoint function and allows cells with damaged or incompletely replicated DNA an entry to another round of cell cycle and bypasses the mitotic phase of the cell cycle

A NARRATIVE REVIEW ON BIOLOGICS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ASTHMA: ASSESSING THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) play a crucial role in the treatment of severe asthma. Physicians rely on patient-specific characteristics to determine the appropriate asthma classification for treatment. Currently, there are five biological agents designed to target the 'TH2-high' asthma phenotype, characterized by inflammation primarily driven by type 2 T-helper cells (TH2). This subtype is associated with severe eosinophilic asthma, marked by elevated levels of immunoglobulin E, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and eosinophils. In contrast, the ' TH2-low' asthma phenotype, characterized by increased sputum neutrophil counts and activation of the TH17-mediated interleukin-17 pathway, remains less understood. This review examines the role of mAbs in the management of severe asthma, with a focus on their efficacy in different asthma phenotypes. We analyze existing literature, clinical trials, and studies involving mAbs in severe asthma treatment, particularly those targeting thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). Biologics targeting 'TH2-high' asthma have shown promising outcomes, effectively reducing symptoms and exacerbations. However, the management of ' TH2-low' asthma remains a challenge due to limited therapeutic options. Recent medical trials have explored the use of mAbs, specifically TSLP-targeting mAbs, which have demonstrated significant efficacy in improving asthma control, even in ' TH2-low' phenotypes. Monoclonal antibodies have revolutionized the treatment of severe asthma, primarily focusing on the ' TH2-high' phenotype. While challenges persist in addressing ' TH2-low' asthma, recent developments, particularly TSLP-targeting mAbs, provide hope for more comprehensive asthma management across various phenotypes. Further research is needed to expand our understanding of ' TH2-low' asthma and explore additional biological agents that may be effective in its treatment. Clinicians should consider personalized treatment approaches, including mAbs, based on the specific asthma phenotype of each patient to optimize asthma management

The centromere-specific histone variant Cse4p (CENP-A) is essential for functional chromatin architecture at the yeast 2-μm circle partitioning locus and promotes equal plasmid segregation

The centromere protein A homologue Cse4p is required for kinetochore assembly and faithful chromosome segregation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It has been regarded as the exquisite hallmark of centromeric chromatin. We demonstrate that Cse4 resides at the partitioning locus STB of the 2-μm plasmid. Cse4p-STB association is absolutely dependent on the plasmid partitioning proteins Rep1p and Rep2p and the integrity of the mitotic spindle. The kinetochore mutation ndc10-1 excludes Cse4p from centromeres without dislodging it from STB. Cse4p-STB association lasts from G1/S through late telophase during the cell cycle. The release of Cse4p from STB chromatin is likely mediated through spindle disassembly. A lack of functional Cse4p disrupts the remodeling of STB chromatin by the RSC2 complex, negates Rep2p binding and cohesin assembly at STB, and causes plasmid missegregation. Poaching of a specific histone variant by the plasmid to mark its partitioning locus with a centromere tag reveals yet another one of the molecular trickeries it performs for achieving chromosome- like fidelity in segregation

Preservation of Biodiversity and Sustainability of Ecosystem

Sustainable agriculture and biodiversity have a significant impact on human well-being, ecological resilience, and food security. They are closely related aspects of the future of our planet.It promotes the stability and functioning of ecosystems, providing numerous ecosystem services vital for agriculture, including pollination, pest control, nutrient cycling, and genetic resources for crop breeding. Biodiversity provides ecosystem services strengthening agricultural productivity and resilience. For instance, pollinators like bees and butterflies facilitate the reproduction of many crops, while natural predators help control pest populations, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. Sustainable agriculture, on the other hand, seeks to meet current food needs without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same. However, modern agricultural practices have often led to the degradation of ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and the erosion of genetic diversity in crops and livestock. These problems have been exacerbated by deforestation, overuse of agrochemicals, and monocropping. In the long term these practices harm the environment and endanger food security by reducing the system's ability to adapt to changing conditions. Sustainable agricultural practices, by enhancing farming methods such as crop rotation, agroforestry, and organic farming, can support and enhance biodiversity by preserving habitat diversity. Conservation of native species, implementation of agro-ecological practices, and support for small-scale farmers are important steps towards achieving a harmonious coexistence between agriculture and biodiversity. There is a need of collaboration across all sections of society from intergovernmental agreements down to local community action for tackling the biodiversity catastrophe. People may learn more about local ecosystems and develop a greater regard and appreciation for them by reestablishing a connection with nature and inspiring others to do the same. UNDP sustainable development goal-15 aims to protect the biodiversity by sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystem

The Iml3 protein of the budding yeast is required for the prevention of precocious sister chromatid separation in meiosis I and for sister chromatid disjunction in meiosis II

The mitotic kinetochore of the budding yeast contains a number of proteins which are required for chromosome transmission but are non-essential for vegetative growth. We show that one such protein, Iml3, is essential for meiosis, in that the absence of this protein results in reduced spore viability, precocious sister chromatid segregation of artificial and natural chromosomes in meiosis I and chromosome non-disjunction in meiosis II

Probing defect induced room temperature ferromagnetism in CVD grown MoO3 flakes: A correlation with electronic structure and first principle-based calculations

In this paper, we report the growth of pure {\alpha}-MoO3 micro-flakes by CVD technique and their structural, electronic, optical, and magnetic properties. Samples are annealed at various temperatures in an H2 atmosphere to induce ferromagnetism. All the samples exhibit ferromagnetism at room temperature, and 250oC annealed sample shows the highest magnetic moment of 0.087 emu/g. It is evident from PL data that pristine as well as annealed samples contain different types of defects like oxygen vacancies, surface defects, interstitial oxygen, etc. It is deduced from the analysis of Mo3d and O1s core-level XPS spectra that oxygen vacancies increase up to an annealing temperature of 250oC that correlates with the magnetic moment. Significant changes in the total density of states and also in the magnetic moment for two and three oxygen vacancies are noticed through first-principle-based calculations. It is concluded that the magnetic moment is produced by oxygen vacancies or vacancy clusters, which is consistent with our experimental findings

Prescribing trends of anti glaucoma medication usage in treatment naive patients of primary open angle glaucoma in a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India

Background: Primary open angle glaucoma remains a high magnitude healthcare problem due to its prevalence and chronicity. The real world scenario of anti glaucoma medical therapy needs periodical auditing as far as drug prescriptions are concerned for formulation of treatment guidelines. Few studies from India have taken a longitudinal approach in this respect. This study was undertaken to identify such lacunae.Methods: This was an open label, prospective, observational study. Each treatment naive patient was followed up for a period of 6 months, where their prescriptions were scanned for the type of the anti glaucoma medications, total number of medications, route of administration, their duration of use and their frequency of dosage and change in medications if any, in each visits.Results: A gradual shift from monotherapy towards combination therapy was observed. Overall averages for prescriptions were topped by monotherapy at 44.25 followed by fixed dose combinations at 38.25, and then combination-polytherapy at 36 and the least number of prescriptions were for concurrent polytherapy at 17.5. Amongst all monotherapy agents, beta blockers were the most frequently prescribed drugs at baseline but their share of prescriptions was almost halved at the end of our study. The prostaglandin analogs on the other hand saw an upsurge in prescriptions from their baseline to the end of this study. Prostaglandin analogs andbeta blockers as fixed dose combination was a popular prescription over the entire study duration.Conclusions: Prescribing trends were remarkable for the shift from primary monotherapy towards fixed dose combinations as the study concluded. The decline in the number of beta blocker prescriptions and a rise in prostaglandin analog prescriptions is a testament to their better effectiveness and tolerability. The future of open angle glaucoma pharmacotherapy lies in prescribing more efficacious drugs either in monotherapy or in fixed combinations