60 research outputs found
Impact of Motivation and Performance Expectancy on Women Entrepreneurial Intention
The purpose of this paper is to review the Motivation and performance expectancy to explore the commonalities of the present theories among the women entrepreneur intentions to boost up the business enterprises. In a fact-finding study information were gathered about the aptitude of motivation and performance expectancy to foresee the Intention of the women’s being examined by the sample of 150women in Pakistan March 2020. A mixed method evaluation design has been adopted in this study. Analysis of regression model uncovered the result that the connection between performance expectations and motivation was intruded positively by entrepreneurial intention of women toward business. The sample is restricted to women entrepreneurs, limiting the generalizability of the findings. The analyses of the influence of motivation variable towards women entrepreneurial intention furnishes us with inspiration to inquire about on the developing questions of how and why females are turning out to be more business people these days. This research supports the progression of study on motivation, performance expectancy variables and its relationship to women entrepreneurial intention in an assortment of settings
Green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using Abutilon indicum leaf extract: Antimicrobial, antioxidant and photocatalytic dye degradation activitie
Purpose: To synthesize copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles using a ecofriendly technique and evaluate their antimicrobial, antioxidant and photo-catalytic dye degradation potentials.Methods: A superficial method (solution combustion method) was employed for the synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles from an aqueous extract of Abutilon indicum. The CuO nanoparticles were characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopic techniques. The antimicrobial activity of the CuO nanoparticles was determined by agar well diffusion method, while their antioxidant properties were assessed by DPPH radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total antioxidant, ferric thiocyanate (FTC) and total phenolic content (TPC) assays. The photo-catalytic degradation activity of synthesized CuO nanoparticles was assessed by the degradation of Acid Black 210 (AB) dye under sunlight irradiation.Results: XRD, EDX and SEM results confirmed successful synthesis of CuO nanoparticles, with hexagonal, wurtzite and sponge crystal structure. Photo-catalytic data revealed that the nanoparticles are a good catalyst for effective degradation of Acid Black 210. The nanoparticles also exhibited remarkable antioxidant activity, with IC50 and FRAP values ranging from 40 ± 0.23 to 84 ± 0.32 μg/ml, and 0.65 ± 0.01 to 9.10 ± 0.21 Trolox equivalent/mL, respectively. Significant bactericidal activity was manifested by the CuO nanoparticles against Klebsiella and Bacillus subtilis with zone of inhibition of 14 ± 0.05 and 15 ± 0.11 mm, respectively.Conclusion: The synthesized CuO nanoparticles exhibit antibacterial and antioxidant potential, indicating that they are good candidates for future therapeutic applications.Keywords: CuO nanoparticles, Green synthesis, Photo-catalytic degradation, Antioxidant, Antimicrobia
An Evaluation of Interchangeability of Implant Components Among Dentists
With the advent of implants in dentistry several different systems are successfully launched and there is evidence that a few of the systems are interchangeable. The equivalence provided by the Branemark implant system and the tolerance of the design parameters has allowed several recently commercialized dental implant systems, the provision of interchangeability. On one hand, abutment interchangeability allows a flexible working resource when implant fixtures of other systems are to be restored. However, the extent to which such a practice can be adopted should be a subject of critical analysis. It has been shown that a micro-gap at the implant-abutment interface can potentially act as a gateway for bacteria to colonize the interstice, potentially leading to bone loss around the implant. In order to further investigate this, a question was distributed to the teaching hospitals in Islamabad to be filled out by dentists and surgeons who are currently placing implants. The data was gathered and results were accumulated. This study takes a look at the prevalence of implant interchangeability amongst dentists and the factors that lead to it
Ziziphus mauritiana leaf extract emulsion for skin rejuvenation
Purpose: To formulate stable water in oil (W/O) emulsion containing hydroalcoholic crude extract of Ziziphus mauritiana leaves for skin rejuvenation.Methods: Placebo (base) without any plant extract and formulation with 4 % Ziziphus mauritiana extract were prepared by mixing. Samples of the emulsions were subjected to varying storage conditions, i.e., 8, 25, 40 oC and 40 oC + 75 % relative humidity for a period of 4 weeks to predict their stability. During this period, stability parameters, including liquefaction, phase separation, color, electrical conductivity, centrifugation and pH were monitored at specified time intervals. Skin rejuvenation was evaluated using 13 healthy human volunteers over a period of 8 weeks. During this period, various skin parameters such as erythema, melanin level, moisture content, elasticity and sebum content of the skin were evaluated at specified intervals.Results: Both the active formulation and placebo were stable in terms of liquifaction, phase separation and color at all the storage conditions of temperature and humidity. Active formulation showed statistically significant (p < 0.05) improvement in skin melanin as well as in skin moisture and sebum levels, whereas these properties were reduced or even absent in the placebo formulation (p > 0.05). Both active and placebo formulations changed skin elasticity and erythema significantly (p < 0.05).Conclusion: İt is evident from the findings that the leaf extract of Ziziphus mauritiana possesses antiaging properties as well as exert skin lightening, moisturizing and viscoelastic effects on human skin.Keywords: Ziziphus mauritiana, Melanin, Erythema, Sebum, Skin-tlightening, Moistirizing, Anti-agin
Transdermal patches: Design and current approaches to painless drug delivery
Use of transdermal patches can evade many issues associated with oral drug delivery, such as first-pass hepatic metabolism, enzymatic digestion attack, drug hydrolysis and degradation in acidic media, drug fluctuations, and gastrointestinal irritation. This article reviews various transdermal patches available in the market, types, structural components, polymer role, and the required assessment tools. Although transdermal patches have medical applications for smoking cessation, pain relief, osteoporosis, contraception, motion sickness, angina pectoris, and cardiac disorders, advances in formulation development are ongoing to make transdermal patches capable of delivering more challenging drugs. Transdermal patches can be tailored and developed according to the physicochemical properties of active and inactive components, and applicability for long-term use. Therefore, a number of chemical approaches and physical techniques for transdermal patch development are under investigation
Modeling and Forecasting of Energy Scenario in Pakistan with Application of Decentralized Energy Planning
The global energy demand has enlarged in recent years as a result of industrial development and population growth. This scenario has even intensified in Pakistan affecting industrial as well as domestic and agriculture sectors, causing 2-3% of GDP loss annually. According to Pakistan Energy Year Book 2012, Pakistan generation capacity being 95365GWh is far greater than the consumption 76,761GWh, indicating that these power-outages are not because of lack of generation capacity but improper energy management. The current pattern of centralized electricity based on costly imported oil, has resulted in inequities, debts and high transmission losses. Therefore, a change in overall energy mix has to be made considering requirements and regional availability of competent resources which can be possible by introducing Decentralized Energy Planning in power policy. In the present research work a comprehensive energy model for Pakistan has been created using LEAP, identifying the loop-holes in system and presenting possible remedies for the current energy crunch
Functional genomics analysis of Leptin-Melanocortin system genes reveals candidate genes associated rapid growth and high carcass yield in sheep
The Leptin-Melanocortin System (LMS) is an important regulatory system involved in appetite and energy balance in many organisms, including sheep. Functional genomics analysis of LMS genes can provide insights into the genetic factors that influence rapid growth and high carcass yield in sheep. However, the genetic potential of sheep growth and reproduction has not been fully exploited. Therefore, identifying genes that regulate growth and reproduction would offer strategies for improving the yield and quality of sheep meat. In this study, to explore the possible molecular mechanisms underlying rapid growth and muscular high-yield carcass in sheep, we screened 14 genes, which were previously claimed to be associated with such traits in humans and rodents. The FST outlier approach implemented in LOSITAN detected the loci under selection. These candidate genes were connected to complicated biological processes, including the regulation of eating behavior, energy balance, and the positive regulation of the cAMP biosynthetic process, according to the gene ontology (GO) study. In addition, the 14 genes' re-sequence data revealed 7,226 SNPs. The MC4R, STAT3, BDNF, and TUB genes were discovered to be an outlier and significantly under positive selection using the fixation index (FST) based technique with the tentative combined allocation of mean heterozygosity and FST. Differentially expressed genes were found, and their functions were assigned using a functional genomics approach. Results showed that these genes are crucial in determining sheep features including size and meat quality. Insights are gained into the molecular mechanisms behind these phenotypic variations, and possible genes for future sheep breeding initiatives are provided. This research proves the value of functional genomics analysis in identifying the heritable components of valuable sheep agriculture traits.The authors extend their appreciation to the Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP2023R27) King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Peer reviewe
Physiological and anthocyanin biosynthesis genes response induced by vanadium stress in mustard genotypes with distinct photosynthetic activity
The present study aimed to elucidate the photosynthetic performance, antioxidant enzyme activities, anthocyanin contents, anthocyanin biosynthetic gene expression, and vanadium uptake in mustard genotypes (purple and green) that differ in photosynthetic capacity under vanadium stress. The results indicated that vanadium significantly reduced photosynthetic activity in both genotypes. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes were increased significantly in response to vanadium in both genotypes, although the purple exhibited higher. The anthocyanin contents were also reduced under vanadium stress. The anthocyanin biosynthetic genes were highly expressed in the purple genotype, notably the genes TT8, F3H, and MYBL2 under vanadium stress. The results indicate that induction of TT8, F3H, and MYBL2 genes was associated with upregulation of the biosynthetic genes required for higher anthocyanin biosynthesis in purple compared with the green mustard. The roots accumulated higher vanadium than shoots in both mustard genotypes. The results indicate that the purple mustard had higher vanadium tolerance
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