Technology, Distribution and the Rate of Profit in the US Economy: Understanding the Current Crisis

This paper offers a synoptic account of the state of the debate within Marxist scholars regarding the current structural crisis of capitalism, identifies two broad streams within the literature dealing, in turn, with aggregate demand and profitability problems, and proceeds to concentrate on an analysis of issues surrounding the profitability problem in two steps. First, evidence on profitability trends for the Nonfarm Nonfinancial Corporate Business, the Nonfinancial Corporate Business and the Corporate Business sectors in post-War U.S. are summarized. A broad range of profit rate measures are covered and data from both the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (NIPA and Fixed Asset Tables) and the Federal Reserve (Flow of Funds Account) are used. Second, the underlying drivers of profitability, in terms of technology and distribution, are investigated. The profitability analysis is used to offer some hypotheses about the current structural crisis

The Predators of Junnar: Local Peoples' Knowledge, Beliefs and Attitudes towards Leopards and Leopard Conservation

Conflicts between humans and leopards have intensified in the Junnar Forest Division (JFD), India due to a combination of factors: loss of natural habitats, increasing rural human densities, and increasing leopard populations. These rural and agrarian communities that have large sugarcane plantations are vulnerable to these conflicts in the form of livestock depredation and attacks on humans, which decrease the tolerance of locals towards leopards and may undermine local wildlife conservation activities. This study used structured interviews to explore local resident's views, knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and behavioral intentions towards leopards and their conservation. The mean attitudes and behavioral intentions of respondents (N = 154) was found to be positive towards leopards and their conservation. To understand behaviors towards leopards and their conservation, a socio-psychological theory, Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), was used. Results indicate a stronger attitudinal influence on locals' behavioral intention towards leopards and leopard conservation. Although several socioeconomic and demographic variables were found to be statistically significant in relation to attitudes, this study revealed the existence of social, psychological, and cultural variables that shape the locals' perceptions of leopards and their conservation. The current study shows that local peoples' attitudes toward leopards are complex, with the view held by the same person often being characterized by both negative and positive aspects. This study does reveal positive dimensions to the local peoples' perceptions of leopards, which are relevant to conservation of this animal and serve as a foundation for recommendations regarding regulatory interventions and educational and management strategies for the future

Global Value Chains and Unequal Exchange: Market Power and Monopoly Power

We revisit the hypotheses of unequal exchange and deteriorating terms of trade in the specific context of import-intensive, export- led strategies of developing countries which rely on integration into GVCs for access to markets in developed countries using a stylized two-country two-commodity Classical- Marxian trade model. Two sources of asymmetry can be distinguished: market power arising from the competition between suppliers that depresses the prices at which the final good is supplied; and monopoly power arising from the lead firms control and ownership of intangible assets including brand and design. The model explores some implications of these two sources of asymmetry

SIMPLE AND RAPID HPLC METHOD DETERMINATION OF CSR1 AND CSR2, NEW HETEROCYCLIC THIAZOLIDINEDIONE DERIVATIVES, IN RAT PLASMA

Objective: This study aimed at developing a simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for determination of two thiazolidinedione derivatives, which were developed as anti-proliferative moieties (CSR1 and CSR2) in rat plasma. In addition, their oral pharmacokinetics were studied.Methods: Drugs were recovered from plasma using acetonitrile and analyzed on a Kromasil C8 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm; 4 μm). HPLC running conditions (0.01M phosphate buffer [pH = 3.0]; flow rate, 0.9 ml/min; at 210 nm; run time, 17 min) were optimized and further used for the determination of pharmacokinetic parameters.Results: At the described chromatographic conditions, CSR1, CSR2 and internal standard (metformin) eluted at 10.44, 9.41, and 3.15 min, respectively. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 0.25–20 µg/ml, with a correlation coefficient>0.999. The quantification limit was 0.25 µg/ml. Within- and between-day precision values were less than 15%. The developed HPLC method was successfully used to study the pharmacokinetics of CSR1 and CSR2 in rats. The developed method was successfully used to study the pharmacokinetics of CSR1 and CSR2. Cmax, AUC0-12, Tmax, t1/2 for CSR1 were 12.2±1.9 µg/ml, 65.34±0.12 µg h/ml, 4.07±0.23 h, t1/2= 4.54±0.12 h, respectively, and those for CSR2 were 10.6±2.2 µg/ml, 62.45±0.31 µg h/ml, 3.56±0.23 h, 3.86±0.09 h, respectively.Conclusion: A specific, linear, and reproducible method was successfully developed and implemented to determine pharmacokinetic activity for two thiazolidinedione derivatives (CSR1 and CSR2), which have been shown to have significant anti-proliferative activity.Â

QUANTITATIVE STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIP ANALYSIS OF NOVEL PYRAZOLINE DERIVATIVES USING K NEAREST NEIGHBOUR MOLECULAR FIELD ANALYSIS METHOD

Objective: Malonyl CoA decarboxylase (MCD) enzyme plays important role in fatty acid and glucose oxidation. Inhibition of MCD might turn to a novel approach to treat ischemia. The main objective of this research article was to develop a novel pharmacophore for enhanced activity.Methods: Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationships (3D-QSAR) was performed for pyrazoline derivatives as MCD inhibitors using VLife MDS 4.6 software. The QSAR model was developed using the stepwise 3D-QSAR kNN-MFA method.Results: The statistical results generated from kNN-MFA method indicated the significance and requirements for better MCD inhibitory activity. The information rendered by 3D-QSAR model may render to better understanding and designing of novel MCD inhibitors.Conclusion: 3D-QSAR is an important tool in understanding the structural requirements for the design of novel and potent MCD inhibitors. It can be employed to design new drug discovery

Corporate Social Responsibilities of Multinational Companies

International business consists of transactions that are devised and carried out across the national borders to satisfy the objectives of individuals and organizations. Today, almost all companies are affected by Global events and competition. The increase in competition among the multinational companies to gain first mover advantage in various countries by establishing goodwill relations with both the state and the civil society. Being a socially responsible multinational company means not only fulfilling the legal expectations, but also going beyond such as investing more in human resources and facing the environmental problems and also satisfying the stakeholders . The social responsibilities are divided into two heads namely internal environment responsibilities and external environment responsibilities. By practicing the social responsibilities in international business, the multinational corporations will not only get more profit but also they can maintain their goodwill ands retain their business position for a long term survival

Challenges experienced in the dental care of persons with special needs: a qualitative study among health professionals and caregivers

Background: This study aimed to explore the challenges experienced in dental health care by professionals and caregivers of persons with special needs in Trinidad and Tobago. This research presented results from the first qualitative study which gained insight into the service component of dental care for people with special needs in this country. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted between March and June 2021. Recruitment of participants used both purposive and snowball sampling. A semi-structured interview schedule was used in the interviews of dentists, (a dental assistant), physicians and caregivers of people with special needs. Narrative inquiry was used in data analysis. The transcripts were individually coded and a follow-up peer debriefing session to cross reference responses and increase the validity of the analysis was performed. Results: Barriers related to the provision of dental care included readiness of health care professionals, the level of specialized care and the resources required for patient treatment. Caregivers encountered barriers such as cost and lack of accessible dental care for persons with special needs. Possible solutions were education of key stakeholders, policy intervention, advocacy and prevention strategies. Conclusions: Caregivers and allied health care professions experience multiple barriers when treating patients with special needs. Study participants indicated a need change in the provision and access of dental services for people with special needs. Education of healthcare professionals, improved social policies and health promotion is warranted.publishedVersio

Evaluation of a special needs dental workshop for health professionals and students in Trinidad and Tobago

AimsThis study aimed to evaluate a special needs dental workshop for dentists, allied dental health professionals and students in Trinidad and Tobago.MethodsThis feedback study conducted in 2019–2020, included two surveys, one at the time of the workshop and a second survey one year after it. The first survey utilized an anonymous self-administered questionnaire enquiring about the reason for attendance, profession/education, demographics, and difficulties faced in treating patients with special needs. The follow-up study used an online survey tool assessing the workshop and queried comments/suggestions. The Chi-square test served for statistical analysis.ResultsOf the 176 attendees 131 participated (response: 74.4%). The majority (81.5%) were females. Most attendees were dental students (50.3%) or dentists (38.9%). Knowledge acquisition (73.1%) and professional development (14.2%) were the main motives for attendance while communication (31.8%) and non-compliance (34.5%) were the main problems faced in treating patients with special needs. The follow-up evaluation (post-workshop) (response: 72.5%) showed that most participants (90.5%) assessed the workshop as positive; 80% reported an increase in their knowledge and 64.2% perceived a need for further education.ConclusionThese findings suggest a considerable demand for special needs dental services and continuing education and show that workshops can actively affect patient care

Computer-assisted design of novel leukotriene C4 receptor antagonists

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