1,534 research outputs found
Harnessing Wisdom for Managing Watersheds: Honey Bee Perspective on Innovations, Institutions and Policies for Marginal Environments
Participatory approaches for watershed management are now considered essential for sustainable natural resources management and yet there is very little opportunity for intellectual participation by the people. This requires understanding of the local knowledge systems and their institutional context. In this paper, we provide an overview of the conceptual framework which can facilitate such participation. The full report being published separately includes case studies of farmersâ innovations in natural resources management.
Real-world utilization and acceptance of biosimilar bevacizumab in metastatic colorectal cancer in India
Background: To describe the patient characteristics and usage pattern of biosimilar bevacizumab for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in India.Methods: This real-world, retrospective analysis included adult patients receiving biosimilar bevacizumab between April 2021 and March 2022.Results: A total of 1125 patients with mCRC who received biosimilar bevacizumab-based chemotherapy were included. The mean age at diagnosis was 57.8 years. Majority of the patients were males (71%) and belonged to the age groups of 41-76 years. The primary tumor site was right colon (52.6%) followed by left colon (29.2%) and rectum (17.3%), and tumor grade was reported as high in most (88.7%) of the patients. Majority of the patients received biosimilar bevacizumab-based chemotherapy as first-line therapy (61.3%), followed by second-line (31.9%) and third-line therapy (6.8%). In combination with biosimilar bevacizumab, FOLFOX (folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin) was the most commonly administered chemotherapy regimen (42.9%), followed by CAPOX (capecitabine and oxaliplatin, 26.5%) and FOLFIRI (folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil, and irinotecan, 22.8%).Conclusions: Biosimilar bevacizumab-based chemotherapy is being widely used in realâworld clinical setting in India for the management of patients with mCRC
Cancer hyperthermia using gold and magnetic nanoparticles
An estimated 12 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer every year, with around 17 million cancer-related deaths per year predicted by 2030 (Thun et al. 2010). Contemporary clinical treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, however all vary in success and exhibit unpleasant side effects. Localised tumour hyperthermia is a moderately new cancer treatment envisaged by researchers, which exploits exclusive tumour vulnerabilities to specific temperature profiles (42-45°C) leading to cancer cell apoptosis, whilst normal tissue cells are relatively unaffected. Hyperthermia is therefore proposed as an alternative potential therapy for cancer, by delivering localised treatment to cancer cells, without the severe side effects associated with traditional therapies.
This project aimed to investigate potential hyperthermic treatment of cancer cells in vitro by adopting nanomedicine principles. Inorganic nanoparticles, such as gold or iron oxide, are both capable of generating heat when appropriately stimulated, therefore both have been suggested as candidates for inducing localised tumour heating following their internalisation into cells. In this project, both gold (GNPs) and magnetic (mNPs) were individually assessed for their potential to deliver toxic thermal energy to bone cancer cells (MG63) and breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Studies were carried out both in standard 2D monolayer and in 3D tumour spheroids.
When considering use in vivo, it is essential that both GNPs and mNPs are biocompatible, therefore initial studies characterised the cell viability and metabolic activity following incubation with the NPs. The NP internalisation was subsequently verified, prior to hyperthermic studies. Following hyperthermic treatment, both GNPs and mNPs were confirmed as inducing cancer cell death. Further studies were carried out using the GNPs, to identify the cell death pathways activated, where mitochondrial stress was evident following 2D culture tests. Gene and protein expression analysis indicated that cell death occurred predominantly via several apoptotic pathways, through increased fold expression changes in apoptotic markers. Interestingly, cell protective mechanisms were simultaneously switched on, as cells were also observed to exhibit thermotolerance with a number of heat shock proteins (Hsps) being substantially increased during hyperthermic treatments
Internationalisation process & upgrading prospects of Indian garment manufacturers
In the context of globalisation and liberalising economies, an increasing number of local firms
based in developing countries and emerging markets are encouraged to internationalise their
business activities and thus participate in foreign trade. Their sustained success is founded on
two key factors; their ability to access potential foreign markets, and their ability to upgrade their
capabilities and thus improve their positioning in global markets. This thesis investigates the
internationalisation process and upgrading prospects of Indian Garment Manufacturers (IGMs).
It begins by examining how IGMs gain access to foreign markets and discusses the factors that
help or hinder their progress. The thesis subsequently explores the ways in which IGMs upgrade
their activities to higher value-added activities and investigates the contributory factors that drive
and shape their upgrading prospects.
Existing studies employ the concept of âDiaspora networksâ or ethnic ties to explain how local
firms from emerging markets are able to internationalise their business activities. These studies
highlight the integral role played by Diaspora networks in enabling this internationalisation.
Diaspora networks help connect local firms with foreign, world class buyers (or âlead firmsâ)
using the Diasporaâs own pre-established ties and links with such lead firms. Similarly, Global
Value Chain (GVC) proponents assume the upgrading prospects of these local firms can be
enhanced as a result of linking up with âlead firmsâ because of the benefits that can be derived
from knowledge and technology transfer imparted through working with world class buyers.
The extant literature however is vague on the internationalisation processes of IGMs.
Furthermore, it does not adequately address the extent to which IGMs utilise Indian Diaspora
networks to access foreign markets and to internationalise their business activities. It is also
unclear what mechanisms are employed to impart knowledge from lead buyers to suppliers and
to what extent the knowledge and technology transferred plays a key role in progressing IGMs
upgrading activities; especially in the higher value added functions of design. This thesis
contributes by addressing and shedding further light on these unresolved issues. It examines the
issues using a combined approach, where theories and concepts from international business (IB)
and GVC are employed in analysing the subject matter and thus allows for a more nuanced and
comprehensive understanding of the issues under investigation.
To explore the above themes a case study based approach was employed. Interviews were
conducted with key decision makers/owners of 23 case companies. Further interviews with key
industry, academic and government heads were conducted as a means of triangulation.
Interviews were, in turn, supplemented with documentary evidence and published material from
company websites, industry and academic journals, and newspaper articles, so as to arrive at a
more comprehensive understanding of the issues in question.
Findings from this study suggest that IGMs rarely use Diaspora networks to access foreign
markets. Instead, the majority of IGMs have achieved internationalisation as a result of well-developed
networks of formal intermediaries based in India who have facilitated connections
with prospective buyers. Furthermore, their manner of internationalisation reveals IGMs tend to
access foreign markets initially at a very young age and at a rapid pace. Thus process-based
theories of internationalisation seem inappropriate in explaining this rapid pace of
internationalisation; insights from the literature on Born Globals and International New Ventures
(INVs) seem, at first, to offer better explanations. However, employing concepts such as the
âmatureâ born global and the âfailedâ born global leads one to re-examine and reconsider these
initial findings. Re-examined findings indicate that in fact maturing IGMs are realigning their
internationalisation trajectories to be better positioned to take advantage of favourable domestic
market conditions. These findings are better explained using a more inclusive definition of
internationalisation; particularly, concepts of de-internationalisation and extra-regional
expansion from the field of IB.
Additional findings, related to the issue of upgrading, indicate that contextual factors, usually
related to the domestic economy and the firmâs internal circumstances, play a significant role in
affecting the upgrading prospects of IGMs. These findings are contrary to GVC-based
explanations of what drives and shapes IGMsâ upgrading activities, which place excessive
emphasis on the role of the âlead firmâ. In particular, GVC-based assumptions regarding the
knowledge and technology transfer benefits available to local manufacturers by linking with
larger world class buyers or lead firms seem of limited applicability to IGMs; here, firm-specific
factors seem more important in determining firm choices concerning upgrading trajectories
Influence of instrument parameters on the electrochemical activity of 3D printed carbon thermoplastic electrodes
3D printing provides a reliable approach for the manufacture of carbon thermoplastic composite electrochemical sensors. Many studies have explored the impact of printing parameters on the electrochemical activity of carbon thermoplastic electrodes but limited is known about the influence of instrument parameters, which have been shown to alter the structure and mechanical strength of 3D printed thermoplastics. We explored the impact of extruder temperature, nozzle diameter and heated bed temperature on the electrochemical activity of carbon black/poly-lactic acid (CB/PLA) electrodes. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements were conducted using standard redox probes. The electrode surface and cross-section of the electrode was visualised using scanning electron microscopy. We found that using extruder temperatures of 230 °C and 240 °C improved the electrochemical activity of CB/PLA electrodes, due to an increase in surface roughness and a reduction in the number of voids in-between print layers. Nozzle diameter, heated bed temperature of different 3D printers did not impact the electrochemical activity of CB/PLA electrodes. However high-end printers provide improved batch reproducibility of electrodes. These findings highlight the key instrument parameters that need to be considered when manufacturing carbon thermoplastic composite electrochemical sensors when using 3D printing
- âŠ