The role of contextual variables in successful post-merger integration: a review and future directions

This paper attempts to investigate what actually influences a merger and acquisition (M&A) successful implementation and post-merger integration. Despite the significant research interest on this topic, there is much to explore in this area. The paper points to new areas of exploration in the existing domain of action research. Based on the existing body of knowledge, the present study explores the influence of a range of factors including organizational, individual, technological and environmental, with intent to investigate the gaps in the existing body of knowledge. It appears that human behavioural and organizational dynamics have been comparably lesser explored than the technological and strategic dimension in this area. However, looking into the future trends, this paper has come up with research objectives that can affect the interventions process and enhance combination success. Future directions for study and potential linkages with other variables have also been provided. Keywords: Merger and acquisitions, merger syndrome, organizational change, post-merger integratio

Study and Evaluation of Groundwater Quality of Malwa Region, Punjab (North India)

Water is the most v aluable, basic human need, prime natural resource and a precious asset. Water is indeed required in all aspect of life and health for domestic purposes, drinking, cooking, bathing, washing clothes, utensils, producing food, agricultural activity, energy generation, maintenance of environment and development for life. Water plays important role in several metabolic, physiological and other activities in human body as well as in other living beings ( m ittal and Arora, 2014)

Carbon-Based Materials for De-Fluoridation of Water: Current Status and Challenges

World is facing scarcity of pure and safe drinkable water and third world war would be based on this issue. Recently ground water is excessively used to meet drinking water needs. Water is the principal source of fluoride in daily intake. Excessive fluoride content in ground water due to leaching from fluoride bearing rocks, pose a serious threat worldwide. Concentration of fluoride in drinking water beyond the recommended standards may lead to serious health problems such as skeletal problems, restricted movement, severe anemia and fluorosis. De-fluoridation of water is quite difficult and expensive. Various materials and technologies have been developed to solve this world wide problem. Ion-exchange, precipitation, electro-chemical, reverse osmosis and adsorption are most widely applied methods for de-fluoridation of water. The main highlight of this chapter is to identify and compare carbon-based materials for de-fluoridation of water on the basis of their efficiency, cost and availability. Challenges associated with the development and use of cost effective and environmental friendly materials for de-fluoridation of water have also been discussed

Disseminated invasive aspergillosis in a prolonged stay in the intensive care unit

Aspergillus is a common cause of invasive mycosis, especially in immunocompromised individuals. We report the case of a 62-year-old male who was hospitalized after suffering severe physical injuries and died after few weeks of hospitalization. A medicolegal autopsy was conducted, and various organs were sent for histopathological examination of which heart, lungs, and kidneys showed extensive involvement by aspergillus. Thus, a diagnosis of disseminated invasive aspergillosis was made on autopsy, which itself is a rare entity. This case report illustrates a prolonged stay in the intensive care unit as a possible risk factor for the development of disseminated aspergillosi

Profiling of bovine toll like receptors (TLRs) in foot and mouth disease vaccinated cattle

Foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) elicits acute humoral antibody response in both infected and vaccinated animals. Toll like receptors (TLRs) are type 1 transmembrane proteins expressed in almost all cell types and activate the innate immune system. The current study was performed to evaluate expression profiling of bovine TLRs like TLR 2, TLR 3, TLR 7, TLR 8 and TLR 10, in response to FMD inactivated vaccine using quantitative real-time RT-PCR technique. Blood samples were collected from control, test group 1 and test group 2, at 0, 14th and 21st days post-vaccination (dpv). The mRNA abundance of these target genes was calibrated with a housekeeping gene (18 S) and expressed as fold over expression of the TLRs genes in bovine over the 0th dpv as control. On 0 day, expression of all TLRs did not vary significantly. The expression of TLR2 and TLR3 genes significantly increased in both test group 1 and 2 after 14th day and 21st DPV but expression of other TLRs increase in test groups 1 and 2 did not differ significantly. Expression of TLR2 and TLR3 genes considerably increased in test group 1 and 2 but expression of these genes were more in test group 1 as compared to test group 2. From preliminary findings, if there is inclusion of TLR2 and TLR 3 agonist in vaccine, it may enhance the innate immunity of animals and helps in clearing of virus and may prevent establishment of infection

Disseminated invasive aspergillosis in a prolonged stay in the intensive care unit

Aspergillus is a common cause of invasive mycosis, especially in immunocompromised individuals. We report the case of a 62-year-old male who was hospitalized after suffering severe physical injuries and died after few weeks of hospitalization. A medicolegal autopsy was conducted, and various organs were sent for histopathological examination of which heart, lungs, and kidneys showed extensive involvement by aspergillus. Thus, a diagnosis of disseminated invasive aspergillosis was made on autopsy, which itself is a rare entity. This case report illustrates a prolonged stay in the intensive care unit as a possible risk factor for the development of disseminated aspergillosi

GWAS identifies genetic loci underlying nitrogen responsiveness in the climate resilient C4 model Setaria italica (L.)

Introduction: N responsiveness is the capacity to perceive and induce morpho-physiological adaptation to external and internal Nitrogen (N). Crop productivity is propelled by N fertilizer and requires the breeding/selection of cultivars with intrinsically high N responsiveness. This trait has many advantages in being more meaningful in commercial/environmental context, facilitating in-season N management and not being inversely correlated with N availability over processes regulating NUE. Current lack of its understanding at the physio-genetic basis is an impediment to select for cultivars with a predictably high N response. Objectives: To dissect physio-genetic basis of N responsiveness in 142 diverse population of foxtail millet, Setaria italica (L.) by employing contrasting N fertilizer nutrition regimes. Methods: We phenotyped S. italica accessions for major yield related traits under low (N10, N25) and optimal (N100) growth conditions and genotyped them to subsequently perform a genome-wide association study to identify genetic loci associated with nitrogen responsiveness trait. Groups of accessions showing contrasting trait performance and allelic forms of specific linked genetic loci (showing haplotypes) were further accessed for N dependent transcript abundances of their proximal genes. Results: Our study show that N dependent yield rise in S. italica is driven by grain number whose responsiveness to N availability is genetically underlined. We identify 22 unique SNP loci strongly associated with this trait out of which six exhibit haplotypes and consistent allelic variation between lines with contrasting N dependent grain number response and panicle architectures. Furthermore, differential transcript abundances of specific genes proximally linked to these SNPs in same lines is indicative of their N dependence in a genotype specific manner. Conclusion: The study demonstrates the value/ potential of N responsiveness as a selection trait and identifies key genetic components underlying the trait in S. italica. This has major implications for improving crop N sustainability and food security