Balancing Control and Trust to Manage CSR Compliance in Supply Chains

This study examines how buyers and suppliers balance control and trust to manage compliance with corporate social responsibility (CSR) requirements in supply chains (SCs). Two indepth qualitative case studies of the Bangladesh apparel industry on two multinational companies of the same european country were conducted. This study indicates that a buyer's need for control and trust is important in contact with other actors for managing CSR compliance in supply chains. This study analyzes control and trust to fill an important gap in Sc theory on relationships by stressing how these constructs, interact and complement each other to manage CSR compliance in apparel industry. This study notes that managers need bothe formal and informal control to create competence and intentional trust in the supplychain

Combining Penthiopyrad with Azoxystrobin is an Effective Alternative to Control Seedling Damping-off Caused by Rhizoctonia solani on Sugar Beet

The soil-borne fungus Rhizoctonia solani causes damping-off on sugar beet seedlings. Growers rely on fungicides to protect sugar beet in fields affected by R. solani. Quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicides, such as azoxystrobin, have been applied as in-furrow and foliar sprays to manage R. solani, but repeated use of QoI fungicides pose risks in fungicide resistance. Penthiopyrad is a novel fungicide with the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) mode of action. The objectives of this study were to compare the efficacy of penthiopyrad used as a sole seed treatment versus azoxystrobin as an in-furrow or a post-planting application for controlling R. solani; to determine if a penthiopyrad seed treatment combined with azoxystrobin as a post-planting application can improve control of R. solani over sole penthiopyrad seed treatment, azoxystrobin in-furrow or post-planting spray application. Seedling survival rate and area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) for seedling loss rate were used to measure the efficacy of each treatment. A sole penthiopyrad seed treatment at 14 g a.i. kg-1 of seeds, and penthiopyrad seed treatments at 7 and 14 g a.i. kg-1 of seeds combined with one azoxystrobin in-furrow application 14 days after planting resulted in similar seedling survival rate and AUDPC as achieved with the standard azoxystrobin in-furrow application. However, post-planting foliar spray of azoxystrobin alone failed to control seedling damping-off. Our research suggests that penthiopyrad can be used as a seed treatment to provide early protection to vulnerable seedlings while azoxystrobin can be used as a post-planting application to protect the ensuing adult plantsPeer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

A Chain Oriented Data Collection Protocol for Energy-Aware and Delay-Constrained WSN

Energy awareness plays an important role in developing routing protocol for the battery powered wireless sensor networks. As the replacement of the battery is often unfeasible in practical situations, we present here an optimal solution for the maximum utilization of precious available energy at the same time trying to minimize the latency in data delivery. We propose to form hierarchical chains with deployed sensors to collect information from a target field where data get fused at every node level before transmitted finally. Our protocol utilizes the higher energy nodes for more frequent long distance transmissions so that the energy expenditure become even between all nodes in the network irrespective of their physical locations. It has been found in our simulation that this protocol outperforms other hierarchical protocols like LEACH and PEGASIS in both the cases of energy consumption and time requirements respectively. It has been also found that the overall lifetime of the sensor network also increases in our protocol

In vitro free radical scavenging and thrombolytic activities of Bangladeshi aquatic plant Aponogeton undulatus Roxb

This article was published in Global Journal of Pharmacology [© IDOSI Publications, 2011] and the definite version is available at: https://idosi.org/gjp/5(1)11/6.pdfInvestigation with the crude methanolic extract of Aponogeton undulatus was carried out to evaluate its possible antioxidant and thrombolysis activity. In DPPH free radical scavenging assay, the extract exhibited potent antioxidant activity with a IC50 values of 2.43±1.06 μg/ml while in ascorbic acid, the value become 50 2.14±0.11 μg/ml. In thrombolytic activity using in vitro clot lysis assay method, the crude methanolic extract was found to have significant (p<0.001) thrombolytic activity at a dose of 10 mg/ml with a miximum effect of 20.23±1.56% while the standard streptokinase showed 46.13±3.87%. The extract was also investigated for its antibacterial and toxic potentiality using agar diffusion and Brine Shrimp lethality bioassay, respectively. The highest antibacterial effect was shown against Bacillus cereus (zone of inhibition 12±0.65 mm) followed by Escherichia coli (zone of inhibition 10±0.71 mm). In this bioassay the extract showed significant toxicity to Brine Shrimp nauplii with the LC50 value of 2.24±0.98 μg/ml. The study clearly indicated that the extract 50 possesses good antioxidant and thromolytic activity along with broad spectrum antibacterial and toxic potentiality.Publishe

Antidiarrheal, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of the Musa sapientum Seed

Abstract Musa sapientum (M.sapientum) commonly known as &apos;banana&apos; is widely used in Bangladeshi folk medicine for the treatment of various ailments including diarrhea. Hence, the present study was designed to investigate antidiarrheal, antioxidant and antibacterial potential of the methanolic extract of M.sapientum seed (MMSS). The extract was studied for antidiarrheal property using castor oil and magnesium sulfate induced diarrheal model and charcoal induced gastrointestinal motility test in mice. Total phenolic and flavonoids content, total antioxidant activity, scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, as well as nitric oxide (NO) and assessment of reducing power were used to evaluate antioxidant potential of MMSS. In addition, disc diffusion methods were used for antibacterial assay using various diarrheal induced bacterial strains. At the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, the extract reduced the frequency and severity of diarrhea in test animals throughout the study period. At the same doses, the extracts significantly (p&lt;0.001) delayed the intestinal transit of charcoal meal in test animals as compared to the control. In DPPH and NO scavenging method, MMSS showed good antioxidant potentiality in a dose dependent manner with the IC 50 value of 12.32±0.33 μg/ml and 18.96±1.01 μg/ml, respectively with a significant (p&lt;0.001) good reducing power. The extract also displayed strong antibacterial effect against when tested against Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Altogether, these results suggest that the MMSS could be used as a potential antidiarrheal agent along with its antioxidant and antibacterial potentiality

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from Cymbopogon citratus leaf extract and evaluation of their antimicrobial properties

Background: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are toxic to microorganisms and can potentially kill multidrug-resistant bacteria. Nanoparticles can be synthesized in many ways, such as physical or chemical methods. Recently, it has been found that plant molecules can perform the same reduction reactions necessary for the production of nanoparticles but in a much more efficient way. Results: Here, green chemistry was employed to synthesize AgNPs using leaf extracts of Cymbopogon citratus. The effects of different parameters such as temperature, pH, and the volume of plant extract were also tested using their absorbance pattern at different wavelengths. The Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) changed with the changes in parameters. Changes in temperature from 20 °C to 60 °C have changed the highest absorbance from 0.972 to 3.893 with an SPR of 470 nm. At higher pH (11.1), the particles become highly unstable and have irregular shapes and sizes. The peak shifts to the right at a lower pH level (3.97), indicating a smaller but unstable compound. We have also investigated the effect of the volume of plant extracts on the reaction time. The sample with the highest amount of plant extract showed the most absorbance with a value of 0.963 at λmax, calculated to be 470 nm. The total formation of the AgNPs was observed visually with a color change from yellow to brownish-black. UV-visible spectroscopy was used to monitor the quantitative formation of AgNPs, showing a signature peak in absorbance between 400 and 500 nm. We have estimated the size of the nanoparticles as 47 nm by comparing the experimental data with the theoretical value using Mieplot. The biosynthesized AgNPs showed enhanced antibacterial activity against several multidrug-resistant bacteria, determined based on the minimal inhibitory concentration and zone of inhibition. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that an aqueous extract of C. citratus can synthesize AgNPs when silver nitrate is used as a precursor, and AgNPs act as antimicrobial property enhancers, which can be used to treat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Hence, mass production and green synthesis of AgNPs from C. citratus will be able to increase the overall health of the general population. Moreover, it will enormously reduce the costs for drug development and provide employment options in the remotely located source areas. Finally, our findings will influence further studies in this field to better understand the properties and applications of AgNPs and ultimately contribute to improving planetary health by increasing immunity with high biocompatibility and less drug toxicity

Supply Chain CSR Image Challenges – A Study on Bangladesh Clothing Industry

This paper provides a deep insight into the corporate social responsiblity (CSR) image scenariao of the Bangladesh suppliers as well as identifies the challanges for building a positive supply chain (SC) CSR image for the suppliers of Bangladesh clothing industry. The contribution of this paper is that it improves knowledge of SC CSR image from the suppliers' as well as buyers' perspective. The paper also make suggestions regarding improvment of suppliers' CSR image that can influence the improvement of SC CSR imag

Analysing pro-poor innovation acceptance by income segments

Purpose To enhance the understanding of the moderating influence of different bottom of the pyramid (BOP) income segments on the antecedents of pro-poor innovation acceptance. Design/methodology/approach In this study, 320 BOP consumers with a range of low-to-moderate literacy and low-income levels were used as a convenience non-probability sample for undertaking quantitative analyses. Findings Only the influence of perceived usefulness on intention is moderated by income segments, such that the effect will be stronger for low-income BOP segment. Moreover, the influences of relative advantage, compatibility and observability on intention are moderated by income segments. Practical implications This empirical work has considerable private sector and public policy implications for companies and government designing/selling products for millions of poor people in developing and emerging economies. Originality/value This study contributes originally to knowledge in the subject area as there are very few studies that clearly and systematically analyse the key antecedents influencing the adoption intention of pro-poor technological innovations in the BOP market