An Empirical Study of Technology Business Incubation on Economic Growth of Pakistan

Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) are seen as a mechanism that could create supportive and entrepreneurial environments for technology-based start-ups, helping them to increase their survival rates. TBIs are designed to offer start-ups the technological support and services and a solution in bridging the knowledge gap to help them develop their own viable businesses, by providing are source-based necessary for supporting their development in early and critical stage. Many TBIs have been established in hoping to promote national economic growth. To promote the success of TBIs in emerging markets, it is therefore important for the incubator management team or policy makers to understand the necessary resource required to support the development of their start-ups in order to help them to become viable businesses. The purpose of this paper is to determine enabling factors influencing the success of technology business incubators (TBIs) with respect to existing and acquired resources, and describe how these enabling factors have been implemented in practice to increase the economic growth of Pakistan. Keywords: Technology, business Incubators, Entrepreneurship, Innovatio

The Role of Technology Entrepreneurship towards Economic Growth: An Application of RFID in Livestock Sector of Pakistan

Over the last three eras, technology entrepreneurship has turned into an essential driver of economic development. The interconnection between entrepreneurship and technology is valuable to distinguish the most applicable techniques for competitiveness in the business areas and supporting new ventures. In today’s competitive environment, Technology entrepreneurship is considered to be an essential element by which an organization can accomplish maintainable development and solve confronting issues related to its processes. In fact, the technological entrepreneurial approach is predicted to add to feasible development and growth toward Knowledge economy. The expansion and diffusion of technology is an essential component which might influence the fate of any industry. In this modern era, one of the significant contribution of  information and communication technology (ICT) in livestock sector is advancement of electronic labels for distinctive ID of animals by utilizing Radio frequency identification (RFID) chips, which are inexpensive, distinctive and tamperproof. Automatic identification of animal assists in enhancing the farm administration practices and prosperity of animals. The foremost goal of this paper is to familiarize the reader with the hypothetical lens of technology entrepreneurship approach with an emphasis on livestock sector of Pakistan. Therefore, this study is an endeavor to find out what opportunities Technological Entrepreneurship and particularly RFID offers to entrepreneurs to exploit current scientific and innovative knowledge to address market issues that will bring business achievement and economic growth by using the secondary data. This paper will first give an ephemeral introduction of technology and Entrepreneurship. Specifically, the relationship between technology and entrepreneurship is scrutinized. Additionally, it will address the issues confronted by livestock sector in Pakistan while executing RFID, thus emphasizing the shortcomings and deficiencies of the RFID in Pakistan. At last, detail argument shall be made on the role of technologies entrepreneurial and its overall impact on the economy growth. Keywords: Technology, Entrepreneurs, Economic growth, Technology entrepreneurs, Livestock, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

Relationship of Computer Usage and Work Self-Efficacy of Employees in the Organizations

An individual’s perceived ability to adopt computer or information technology successfully has been shown to be major factor affecting his or her willingness to accept new technology. Hence, the relationship of self-efficacy with information system usage (computer, Internet, new information technology, etc.) is noteworthy. This research aims at studying exactly that. Four major constructs of self-efficacy presented by Albert Bandura are discussed in the paper. The literature review and the relevant researches, mentioned previously, all suggest that a relationship exists between Computer/Information System Usage and Self-efficacy, both in learning institutions and workplace environments. This study, however aims at interrogating this relationship at workplace environments of Rawalpindi/Islamabad regions of Pakistan, in particular. To conclude the results 150 questionnaires were distributed out of which we received 127 back. The participants have matriculation to doctorate qualification; however, majority had master’s degree which is sixteen years of education in Pakistan. This study and its findings are significant on another level as well. Throughout the literature review, the researches that have been quoted have all been carried out abroad. Although, there is an advent of Information Technology in Pakistan and individuals are getting to be computer savvy, little to no research can be found that has been conducted here. This may be an initial step and that too in the small cities of Rawalpindi/Islamabad; the results nonetheless are promising and can pave a way for more thorough and large scale future investigations on the matter. In conclusion, the findings can also assist in creating awareness regarding the association between computer self-efficacy and work self-efficacy amongst the population. This in turn, can help bring about a change in the opinions and attitudes of individuals thus, creating a constructive and optimistic approach toward Information System and Computer usage whereby, increasing employee productivity and performance. Keywords: Self-Efficacy, Technological Self-Efficacy, Work Self-Efficacy, Information System’s Usage, Organizations and Computer Usage

The Role of Technology Entrepreneurship in Higher Education Sector of Developing Countries: A Case Study of Pakistan

In modern theories of growth and development, technological innovation has taken the focus stage and such innovations are commercialized by technology entrepreneurs. Colleges and universities are investing heavily in the development of their student’s entrepreneurial skills and have tremendous impact on innovation and entrepreneurial development. Universities today equally function as an important driving force to enhance economic value by creation of networks with innovators across a region through their incubators and scientific and technology parks. In developed countries many entrepreneurs start up their companies at their universities but in developing countries there are so many challenges yet to be faced by new starts up. Technology entrepreneurship in education basically explores how technology entrepreneurs are applying business practices or technology innovations to transform education to lead to higher performance. As higher education industry is changing radically and that transformation is worth for commercial benefits of businesses and also for innovative startups. Today the presence of colleges and universities are not only meant to be the gatekeeper of knowledge and information instead various innovators are in flowing as entrepreneurs in education industry. This study will explore that in what ways technology entrepreneurship is facilitating the educator sector of the emerging economies specifically in Pakistan. Keywords: Technology entrepreneurship, High Education Sector, Developing economies, Business Incubation Centers

Impact of Knowledge Management on Organizational Learning in Telecom Sector of Pakistan

This study aims to investigate the emerging trend of Knowledge Management (KM) system on organizational learning in telecommunication industry.KM is the propagating issue of concern for management, it’s the outcome of practice and research and it’s still emerging as an essential concept. This paper is going to address KM concerns related to human capital and ICT in the telecom sector. It would help the telecom sector to have a good insight at KM discipline in order to prioritize KM practices by facilitating its adoption. Academicians can employ the outcomes of this study to fabricate replica models and it would further aid to inflate the KM realm. This research is significantly the foremost to steadily establish the importance of knowledge management in the Telecommunication industry of Pakistan. It proffers a favorable reserve of salient information to the telecom sector as it is still sheathing far behind in application of Knowledge Management Tools and practices. Keywords: Organizational Learning , Knowledge management, Telecom Sector, Pakistan

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy

SARS-CoV-2-specific nasal IgA wanes 9 months after hospitalisation with COVID-19 and is not induced by subsequent vaccination

BACKGROUND: Most studies of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 focus on circulating antibody, giving limited insights into mucosal defences that prevent viral replication and onward transmission. We studied nasal and plasma antibody responses one year after hospitalisation for COVID-19, including a period when SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was introduced. METHODS: In this follow up study, plasma and nasosorption samples were prospectively collected from 446 adults hospitalised for COVID-19 between February 2020 and March 2021 via the ISARIC4C and PHOSP-COVID consortia. IgA and IgG responses to NP and S of ancestral SARS-CoV-2, Delta and Omicron (BA.1) variants were measured by electrochemiluminescence and compared with plasma neutralisation data. FINDINGS: Strong and consistent nasal anti-NP and anti-S IgA responses were demonstrated, which remained elevated for nine months (p < 0.0001). Nasal and plasma anti-S IgG remained elevated for at least 12 months (p < 0.0001) with plasma neutralising titres that were raised against all variants compared to controls (p < 0.0001). Of 323 with complete data, 307 were vaccinated between 6 and 12 months; coinciding with rises in nasal and plasma IgA and IgG anti-S titres for all SARS-CoV-2 variants, although the change in nasal IgA was minimal (1.46-fold change after 10 months, p = 0.011) and the median remained below the positive threshold determined by pre-pandemic controls. Samples 12 months after admission showed no association between nasal IgA and plasma IgG anti-S responses (R = 0.05, p = 0.18), indicating that nasal IgA responses are distinct from those in plasma and minimally boosted by vaccination. INTERPRETATION: The decline in nasal IgA responses 9 months after infection and minimal impact of subsequent vaccination may explain the lack of long-lasting nasal defence against reinfection and the limited effects of vaccination on transmission. These findings highlight the need to develop vaccines that enhance nasal immunity. FUNDING: This study has been supported by ISARIC4C and PHOSP-COVID consortia. ISARIC4C is supported by grants from the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the Medical Research Council. Liverpool Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre provided infrastructure support for this research. The PHOSP-COVD study is jointly funded by UK Research and Innovation and National Institute of Health and Care Research. The funders were not involved in the study design, interpretation of data or the writing of this manuscript

Large-scale phenotyping of patients with long COVID post-hospitalization reveals mechanistic subtypes of disease

One in ten severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections result in prolonged symptoms termed long coronavirus disease (COVID), yet disease phenotypes and mechanisms are poorly understood1. Here we profiled 368 plasma proteins in 657 participants ≥3 months following hospitalization. Of these, 426 had at least one long COVID symptom and 233 had fully recovered. Elevated markers of myeloid inflammation and complement activation were associated with long COVID. IL-1R2, MATN2 and COLEC12 were associated with cardiorespiratory symptoms, fatigue and anxiety/depression; MATN2, CSF3 and C1QA were elevated in gastrointestinal symptoms and C1QA was elevated in cognitive impairment. Additional markers of alterations in nerve tissue repair (SPON-1 and NFASC) were elevated in those with cognitive impairment and SCG3, suggestive of brain–gut axis disturbance, was elevated in gastrointestinal symptoms. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) was persistently elevated in some individuals with long COVID, but virus was not detected in sputum. Analysis of inflammatory markers in nasal fluids showed no association with symptoms. Our study aimed to understand inflammatory processes that underlie long COVID and was not designed for biomarker discovery. Our findings suggest that specific inflammatory pathways related to tissue damage are implicated in subtypes of long COVID, which might be targeted in future therapeutic trials

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570