Identifications and Exploitation of a Business Opportunity: Case of Women Entrepreneurship in India

It is unknown how Yoruba women textile traders organize their textile enterprises, despite the vagaries of informal economy. However, in an informal economy, trade in every commodity has its own social organizational structures and politics. Scholars have argued that commodity needs to be separately studied so to detangle the various structures and politics associated with each commodity so that behavioural patterns that lead to entrepreneurial development can be determined. The focus of this paper therefore is to examine the organizational strategies of Yoruba women textile traders. The paper hinges on social action theory by Max Weber. The research design is qualitative in nature. Eight focus group discussions were conducted among the women respondents; Forty (40) in depth- Interview, and six case- studies were conducted. The findings reveals that in social organization of textile trading, several unique methods were adopted such as; placing of exclusive rights on some textile materials, innovation and imitation of textile materials for continuous trading of textile materials. In promotion of textile materials, the finding reveals that economic and non-economic activities were utilized to promote sales. While some classical tenets of entrepreneurship, were adopted by the women in recording the transactions. The paper recommends innovative attitude, importance of role mentors, building of social Capital among other traders in the market, and teaching of record keeping of transaction. All these are essential tools for women entrepreneurship development in informal economy

Opportunity Recognition and Growth Dynamics of an MSME Unit – A Case of Women Entrepreneurship in India

This case study showcases the initiative and hard work of a woman entrepreneur from India, who was conscious of the growing concern for pollution, caused by the plastic bags and had a passion to establish a venture to produce and market jute products. This case study discusses in detail the education acquired by the entrepreneur, her vision, initiative, development and operation of the venture, growth enjoyed in the last few years and the plans for future expansion. It also showcases how this woman entrepreneur was successful in creating innumerable jobs in the society, besides earning a livelihood for herself

Adverse events of albendazole due to mass drug administration

Background: Soil-transmitted helminths are mostly prevalent in developing countries due to poor sanitation and lack of adequate clean water. The present study examines adverse events (AEs) experienced following administration of albendazole to children (2-19 Years) at Uttarakhand on national de-worming day.Methods: Children were given single doses of albendazole on national de-worming day. Some of children experienced adverse events and were admitted in hospital of Govt Medical college Haldwani (Uttarakhand). Data were collected and analyzed.Results: Total twenty five children were admitted due to albendazole adverse events. Out of these 92% were female. Mean age of admitted children was 14.14 years with standard deviation 3.45. Mean onset of adverse events was 5.6 hours with standard deviation of 1.5 hours. All children were treated symptomatically and were discharged once they recovered. No fatality due to adverse events was observed. Average duration of stay in hospital was 3.4 days. Out of twenty five children 12% children reported four or more adverse events, 40% children reported three adverse events and 48% reported two adverse events. Out AEs, 33% AEs were mild, 19% AEs were moderate, 31% AEs were severe and 17% AEs were serious. Abdominal pain was reported by 76%, headache by 44%, loss of consciousness by 32%, vomiting by 28%, nausea by 16%, convulsions by 12%, rashes by 8%, fever by 8%, and breathlessness by 14% and vertigo by 4%.Conclusions: The adverse events were mild to serious but transient, but all of them recovered after hospitalization. Therefore, it is imperative that mass drug administration programmes put in place surveillance measures in order to ensure timely detection, management and reporting of potential life threatening AEs

Posterior segment manifestations in human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients in rural population of central india

Background: Ocular manifestations of HIV infections are common in the developing countries with lacking data in rural areas. The aim of study was to assess the prevalence of ophthalmic manifestations among HIV infected individuals in rural population and to find the relationship between CD4 count and ocular manifestations among these individuals.Methods: Authors have included 400 HIV patients of age more than 15 years that were registered in ART center of our institute. Ocular examination was done with slit lamp biomicroscope and indirect ophthalmoscope. Blood sample was sent for CD4 count analysis.Results: The mean age of patients ware 31.9±9.3 years, the ocular manifestations were more commonly found in the age group 25-35 years. 51 % were males and 49% were females. Most common mode of transmission was heterosexual contact (51%).55 % patients had CD4 count >150 cell/cumm. Cotton wool spots (36%) and intra-retinal haemorrhages (32%) was most common posterior segment findings followed by ocular toxoplasmosis (13%), CMV retinitis (10%), acute retinal necrosis (3 %).Conclusions: The prevalence of ocular manifestations in HIV patients is high and is a burden for our society, authors recommend screening of all the HIV patients to detect any vision threatening ocular lesions at the earliest

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on air transport: the case of Virgin Australia airlines

This research study scrutinized the financial signs that were overlooked or were failed to be controlled by Virgin Australia from 2012 through 2019. Empirical research was done based on secondary data retrieved from the annual reports of the company. The annual reports of the company were analyzed in a multi-dimensional manner using financial analysis tools and instruments. The finds of this research demonstrate that it was not merely the Covid-19 pandemic, which pushed the world’s oldest airlines into bankruptcy but there existed numerous critical issues within the company. Virgin Australia’s financial statements revealed fifteen alarming indicators which were overlooked by the company. Right from operating revenue, operating expenses, profit margins, to current and liquid ratio all eleven indicators were hugely adverse since last eight years continuously. The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic forced lockdown across nations and the aviation industry was the worst hit amid the global turmoil. This proved fatal for Australia’s second-largest carrier which was already ailing from financial distress for the last several years and thus the company had to file bankruptcy

Cloning and sequencing of complete τ-crystallin cDNA from embryonic lens of Crocodylus palustris

τ-Crystallin is a taxon-specific structural protein found in eye lenses. We present here the cloning and sequencing of complete τ-crystallin cDNA from the embryonic lens of Crocodylus palustris and establish it to be identical to the τ-enolase gene from non-lenticular tissues. Quantitatively, the τ-crystallin was found to be the least abundant crystallin of the crocodilian embryonic lenses. Crocodile τ-crystallin cDNA was isolated by RT-PCR using primers designed from the only other reported sequence from duck and completed by 5'- and 3'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) using crocodile gene specific primers designed in the study. The complete τ-crystallin cDNA of crocodile comprises 1305 bp long ORF and 92 and 409 bp long untranslated 5'- and 3'-ends respectively. Further, it was found to be identical to its putative counterpart enzyme τ-enolase, from brain, heart and gonad, suggesting both to be the product of the same gene. The study thus provides the first report on cDNA sequence of τ-crystallin from a reptilian species and also re-confirms it to be an example of the phenomenon of gene sharing as was demonstrated earlier in the case of peking duck. Moreover, the gene lineage reconstruction analysis helps our understanding of the evolution of crocodilians and avian species

Anti-Microbial Activity of Hempseed Oil and Sage Oil against Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans: An In-Vitro Study

Objective: To assess the anti-microbial activity of sage oil and hempseed oil against Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. Material and Methods: The sage oil and hempseed oil in pure extract form were collected from an authorized government organization. The anti-microbial activity from the oils was assessed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Standard antibiotics Vancomycin and Fluconazole were taken as a positive control for Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans, respectively. The mean zone of inhibition (ZOI) was measured at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours by HI-MEDIAs antibiotic zone scale. One-way Analysis of variance with Tukey’s Post Hoc was applied for statistical analysis. Results: The mean zone of inhibition of sage oil and hempseed oil at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours against Streptococcus mutans was (7.0 ± 4.24, 9.1 ± 3.71 and 8.4 ± 3.02) and (0.0, 3.2 ± 0.75, 1.9 ± 1.24) respectively. The zone of inhibition against Candida albicans 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours for sage oil (2.80 ± 1.151, 6.70 ± 1.30 and 6.30 ± 1.44), hempseed oil (0.0, 3.80 ± 0.75, 3.10 ± 0.41). Sage oil presented potential anti-microbial activity against Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. Comparing the anti-microbial efficacy, standard antibiotic (Vancomycin/Fluconazole) was more effective than test oils. Conclusion: Test oils showed anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activity against Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. Among these, sage oil showed efficacy at 24 hours, while hempseed oil did not show any effect at this time point. Further studies are needed to affirm the same and test their efficacy in different forms and concentrations

Tackling colourism through storytelling in an online course for public health professionals

Objective: Strategic storytelling can be used to reframe dominant cultural narratives and improve community health outcomes. This pilot study assessed the impact of an original, online 3-week e-course, delivered from November to December 2021, in increasing learners’ knowledge of and concern for the seriousness of skin-shade discrimination and the use of skin-lightening products in India, increasing learners’ understanding of storytelling-based communication techniques for public health promotion, and increasing learners’ intentions to use strategic storytelling for social change. Design, Setting and Method: The course used case-method pedagogy to address colourism and cosmetic skin lightening. Learners ( N = 25) completed a pre-course baseline survey on their knowledge and concerns regarding colourism and the use of skin-lightening products, as well as their expectations and interests in taking the course. Following course completion, learners completed a post-webinar survey. The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test was used to assess differences from pre- to post-course surveys on quantitative items. Open-ended responses were also analysed using qualitative content analysis for recurring themes on learner interest and experience. Results: From pre- to post-course surveys, there were significant improvements in learners’ knowledge of skin shade discrimination and the use of skin-lightening products ( p < .05). Learners indicated being more concerned about the seriousness of skin shade discrimination post-course compared to pre-course. Learners also described a positive learning experience and indicated that the e-course enhanced their understanding of strategic storytelling. Conclusion: Findings highlight the importance of an original e-course that uses case-method pedagogy to build knowledge and skills that addresses the impacts of colourism on the health of Indian adolescents and provides new directions for future research on health education interventions that aim to tackle colourism

Trefoil factor 2 rapidly induces interleukin 33 to promote type 2 immunity during allergic asthma and hookworm infection

The molecular mechanisms that drive mucosal T helper type 2 (T[subscript H]2) responses against parasitic helminths and allergens remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate in mice that TFF2 (trefoil factor 2), an epithelial cell–derived repair molecule, is needed for the control of lung injury caused by the hookworm parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and for type 2 immunity after infection. TFF2 is also necessary for the rapid production of IL-33, a T[subscript H]2-promoting cytokine, by lung epithelia, alveolar macrophages, and inflammatory dendritic cells in infected mice. TFF2 also increases the severity of allergic lung disease caused by house dust mite antigens or IL-13. Moreover, TFF2 messenger RNA expression is significantly increased in nasal mucosal brushings during asthma exacerbations in children. These experiments extend the biological functions of TFF2 from tissue repair to the initiation and maintenance of mucosal T[subscript H]2 responses

SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 Delta variant replication and immune evasion

Abstract: The B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in the state of Maharashtra in late 2020 and spread throughout India, outcompeting pre-existing lineages including B.1.617.1 (Kappa) and B.1.1.7 (Alpha)1. In vitro, B.1.617.2 is sixfold less sensitive to serum neutralizing antibodies from recovered individuals, and eightfold less sensitive to vaccine-elicited antibodies, compared with wild-type Wuhan-1 bearing D614G. Serum neutralizing titres against B.1.617.2 were lower in ChAdOx1 vaccinees than in BNT162b2 vaccinees. B.1.617.2 spike pseudotyped viruses exhibited compromised sensitivity to monoclonal antibodies to the receptor-binding domain and the amino-terminal domain. B.1.617.2 demonstrated higher replication efficiency than B.1.1.7 in both airway organoid and human airway epithelial systems, associated with B.1.617.2 spike being in a predominantly cleaved state compared with B.1.1.7 spike. The B.1.617.2 spike protein was able to mediate highly efficient syncytium formation that was less sensitive to inhibition by neutralizing antibody, compared with that of wild-type spike. We also observed that B.1.617.2 had higher replication and spike-mediated entry than B.1.617.1, potentially explaining the B.1.617.2 dominance. In an analysis of more than 130 SARS-CoV-2-infected health care workers across three centres in India during a period of mixed lineage circulation, we observed reduced ChAdOx1 vaccine effectiveness against B.1.617.2 relative to non-B.1.617.2, with the caveat of possible residual confounding. Compromised vaccine efficacy against the highly fit and immune-evasive B.1.617.2 Delta variant warrants continued infection control measures in the post-vaccination era