Does FDI Regulatory Policies Influence FDI Inflows in Developing Countries? A Non Linear Analysis

Purpose: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow is regarded as highly important particularly for developing countries as it enhances economic activities and creates job opportunities. The main objective of the present study is to analyze the impact of two regulatory policies i.e. Regulatory Restrictiveness Index (RRI) and Ease of Doing Business (EDB) on FDI inflows in developing countries. Research Gap: Not many studies have discussed the role of more than one regulatory policy to examine their impact on FDI inflows. Therefore, the present study is an attempt to bridge this research gap as it uses two regulatory policies to examine this relationship. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study performs the non-linear analysis using two separate models to determine FDI inflows in 39 developing countries for the period 1997-2020.For this purpose FGLS econometric technique is utilized. The Main Findings: The linearized marginal effects of RRI show that all the countries are located on the left side of U shaped curve while linearized marginal effects of EDB show that some countries lie on the left side and others lie on the right side of U shaped curve. The higher value of the level coefficient than the value of the quadratic coefficient reveals the stronger influence of level coefficients in both models. Theoretical/Practical Implications of the Findings: The study concludes that developing countries need to reduce FDI restrictions to attract maximum FDI inflows. Furthermore, it is recommended that for improving the confidence of foreign investors, appropriate and consistent policies should be designed and implemented

Causes of higher ecological footprint in Pakistan: Does energy consumption contribute? Evidence from the non-linear ARDL model

The impact of human activities on environmental degradation has been increasing over time, and ecological footprint measures the impact of human activities on the environment. An increase in ecological footprint has created alarming situations around the globe. This study explores the causes of Pakistan’s high ecological footprint (EFP). The asymmetric analysis of fossil fuels and renewable energy consumption on EFP has been carried out from 1990 to 2020. The results obtained from the NARDL approach revealed that the positive shocks of fossil fuel consumption increase EFP, but its negative shocks decline EFP. Meanwhile, both positive and negative shocks of renewable energy consumption decline EFP in Pakistan. This study suggests that renewable energy consumption can play a significant role in reducing the EFP in Pakistan

The Role of Institutional Quality in Enhancing Social Cohesion

Social cohesion is considered to be important for a society. The role of state institutions is to bring state closer to its population. The effective connection between state and society may be possible only through changing institutions. Present study is an attempt to explore the impact of institutional quality in enhancing social cohesion in a society. For analysis purpose, the study uses five year average panel data from 1990 to 2010 of 68 developing countries. For estimation purpose fixed effect and random effect models as suggested by Hausman test have been used in different specification of the model. The results of the study reveal that better institutional quality enhances social cohesion and income inequality is a threat to social cohesion while diversity is not a harmful to social cohesion. Furthermore, equality and prosperity both enhance social cohesion. The study recommends that on one hand efforts should be made to reduce inequality and on the other hand there is a need to build up social cohesion. These can be achieved through redesigning the institutions ensuring that it is better fit to local needs. The study concludes that social cohesion can be achieved through introducing and re-structuring the policy reforms in developing countries

Analytical analysis of the magnetic field, heat generation and absorption, viscous dissipation on couple stress casson hybrid nano fluid over a nonlinear stretching surface

The aim of this research paper is to study two-dimension flow of Casson hybrid nanofluid along with magnetic field, heat generation and absorption, and viscous dissipation on a nonlinear extending surface. The primary goal of this study is to improve the heat transfer relationship, which is in high demand in the manufacturing and engineering industries. The outputs of this study will be used to reduce the energy consumption in industry and other engineering fields,for example, the achievement of energy is not enough, but also to adjust the con-sumptions of energy and this is possible only to approve the development heat transmission liquids to mechanism the expenditures of energy and to improvement. The described similarity transformation is used to convert the non-dimensionless form of the nonlinear partial differential equation to the dimensionless form of the nonlinear ordinary differential equation. An approximate analytical method is used to solve the derived dimensionless form of nonlinear ordinary differential equations, one for velocity and the other for temperature. Graphs are used to highlight the most relevant results acquired from velocity and temperature. Tables are used to describe the skin friction coefficient and the Nusselt number.The work of U·F.G. was supported by the government of the Basque Country for the ELKARTEK21/10KK-2021/00014 and ELKARTEK22/85 research programs, respectively

Probing the potential of water chestnut powder (Trapa bispinosa) in improving the shelf life of buttermilk

Buttermilk, a valuable by-product of butter production, faces challenges in commercialization due to its limited shelf life and susceptibility to fungal growth. This study aimed to explore the use of water chestnut powder (WCP) as a means to extend the shelf life of buttermilk. The investigation involved evaluating the physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, antifungal properties, and stabilizing effects of WCP in buttermilk. Buttermilk samples were prepared with varying concentrations of WCP (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) and stored at 4 °C for one month. The analysis of physicochemical properties showed that the concentration of WCP had a significant impact on the protein percentage, ash content, pH, and acidity of the Water Chestnut Buttermilk (WCBM). Assessment of antioxidant activity using the phosphomolybdenum method showed that, on the 21st day of storage, WCBM3 and WCBM4 exhibited total antioxidant capacities of 0.57±0.12 and 0.60±0.32, respectively, compared to the control with a capacity of 0.48±0.07. The antifungal activity of water chestnut powder buttermilk was evaluated using a qualitative method, which demonstrated inhibition of fungal growth. In the control and WCBM1 and WCBM2 treatments, the observed inhibition ranged from 1-4 mm. However, as the concentration of water chestnut powder increased in WCBM3 and WCBM4, the level of inhibition also increased. Textural analysis further indicated the stabilizing effect of WCP on buttermilk. Overall, the incorporation of WCP in buttermilk yielded promising results in terms of enhancing its physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, antifungal potential, and textural stability. This study highlights the potential of water chestnut as an ingredient to improve the shelf life and quality of buttermilk, creating opportunities for its commercial utilization in the dairy industry

N-Ethyl-N-(2-meth­oxy­phen­yl)benzene­sulfonamide

In the title mol­ecule, C15H17NO3S, the C—S—N—Cbenzene torsion angle is 81.45 (16)°, and the two aromatic rings form a dihedral angle of 45.83 (12)°. In the crystal structure, weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into chains parallel to the b axis

First report of Rickettsia conorii in Hyalomma kumari ticks

As a vector of wide range of pathogenic agents, ticks pose health threats to wild and domestic animals, and humans. Information is unavailable about the prevalence and spatial survey of Hyalomma kumari ticks and associated Rickettsia spp. in Pakistan. Concerning this knowledge gap, the present study aimed to molecularly detect Rickettsia species associated with H. kumari infesting small ruminants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. A total of 409 H. kumari ticks were collected from 163/295 infested hosts with an infestation rate of 55.25%. A total of 204 females, 158 males, and 47 nymphs were collected. Goats were heavily infested by 224 ticks having an infestation rate of 58.33% (98/168), whereas sheep were infested by 185 ticks having a lesser infestation rate of 51.18% (65/127). Genomic DNA extracted from ticks was used for the amplification of tick (cox I, 16S rRNA, ITS-2) species and Rickettsia (gltA, ompA, and ompB) partial genes. Eighty-three ticks were subjected to PCR, and 8/83 (9.6%) were found positive for rickettsial agents. The cox I and 16S rRNA sequences of H. kumari showed 98.90–99.74% identity with H. kumari sequences reported from Pakistan, and phylogenetically clustered to the corresponding species reported from Pakistan and India. The obtained rickettsial gltA, ompA, and ompB sequences showed 100% identity with Rickettsia sp. of the Rickettsia conorii reported from Pakistan. In the phylogenetic trees, rickettsial sequences clustered with uncharacterized Rickettsia sp. from Pakistan and R. conorii from Israel, Russia, South Africa, and India. The present molecular based detection of H. kumari-associated R. conorii will facilitate effective surveillance in the region

Oil based inactivated vaccine formulation for furunculosis (A. salmonicida) and protective immune response of rainbow trout and brown trout

The development and growth of the fisheries and aquaculture industries are significantly hampered by illnesses. It is critical to combat pathogenic illnesses, especially bacterial ones. Furunculosis in salmon is mostly brought on by Aeromonas salmonicida in rainbow and brown trout. To control this pathogen, vaccines have been identified as a significant tool. In the present study, we have formulated an inactivated vaccine with oil as an adjuvant and estimated its efficacy. The lethal dose of ArS-Pak-19, was calculated and injected intraperitoneally to the fishes. To analyze the infection, samples of kidney, liver, spleen, and blood were collected at specific times. To estimate the immunogenicity of the vaccine, an experiment was designed. One hundred sixty fishes were distributed into 8 tanks including, six experimental groups and two control groups with its replicates, vaccines injected intraperitoneally 1.6 × 107 , 1.6 × 108 , and 1.6 × 109 and blood samples were taken fortnightly for 56 days to calculate the antibodies titers. After immunization these groups were challenged with Aeromonas salmonicida (ArS-Pak-19) intraperitoneally. At 7th day of post infection, it appeared in the liver, spleen, and kidney. The relative percentage of survival was estimated with control groups at 30 days after challenge. The relative percentage of survival was 80%. The IgM titers were higher at 24 days of post immunization. We also analyzed that antibodies non-specifically bound with the A-layer of Aeromonas salmonicida. The findings of this study offer evidence that vaccinations boost fishes immunity and serve as a roadmap to further vaccination initiatives

Association of the PHACTR1/EDN1 genetic locus with spontaneous coronary artery dissection

Background: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an increasingly recognized cause of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) afflicting predominantly younger to middle-aged women. Observational studies have reported a high prevalence of extracoronary vascular anomalies, especially fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) and a low prevalence of coincidental cases of atherosclerosis. PHACTR1/EDN1 is a genetic risk locus for several vascular diseases, including FMD and coronary artery disease, with the putative causal noncoding variant at the rs9349379 locus acting as a potential enhancer for the endothelin-1 (EDN1) gene. Objectives: This study sought to test the association between the rs9349379 genotype and SCAD. Methods: Results from case control studies from France, United Kingdom, United States, and Australia were analyzed to test the association with SCAD risk, including age at first event, pregnancy-associated SCAD (P-SCAD), and recurrent SCAD. Results: The previously reported risk allele for FMD (rs9349379-A) was associated with a higher risk of SCAD in all studies. In a meta-analysis of 1,055 SCAD patients and 7,190 controls, the odds ratio (OR) was 1.67 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.50 to 1.86) per copy of rs9349379-A. In a subset of 491 SCAD patients, the OR estimate was found to be higher for the association with SCAD in patients without FMD (OR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.53 to 2.33) than in SCAD cases with FMD (OR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.28 to 1.99). There was no effect of genotype on age at first event, P-SCAD, or recurrence. Conclusions: The first genetic risk factor for SCAD was identified in the largest study conducted to date for this condition. This genetic link may contribute to the clinical overlap between SCAD and FMD

Genome-wide association identifies nine common variants associated with fasting proinsulin levels and provides new insights into the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Proinsulin is a precursor of mature insulin and C-peptide. Higher circulating proinsulin levels are associated with impaired β-cell function, raised glucose levels, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Studies of the insulin processing pathway could provide new insights about T2D pathophysiology. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We have conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association tests of ∼2.5 million genotyped or imputed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and fasting proinsulin levels in 10,701 nondiabetic adults of European ancestry, with follow-up of 23 loci in up to 16,378 individuals, using additive genetic models adjusted for age, sex, fasting insulin, and study-specific covariates. RESULTS: Nine SNPs at eight loci were associated with proinsulin levels (P < 5 × 10(-8)). Two loci (LARP6 and SGSM2) have not been previously related to metabolic traits, one (MADD) has been associated with fasting glucose, one (PCSK1) has been implicated in obesity, and four (TCF7L2, SLC30A8, VPS13C/C2CD4A/B, and ARAP1, formerly CENTD2) increase T2D risk. The proinsulin-raising allele of ARAP1 was associated with a lower fasting glucose (P = 1.7 × 10(-4)), improved β-cell function (P = 1.1 × 10(-5)), and lower risk of T2D (odds ratio 0.88; P = 7.8 × 10(-6)). Notably, PCSK1 encodes the protein prohormone convertase 1/3, the first enzyme in the insulin processing pathway. A genotype score composed of the nine proinsulin-raising alleles was not associated with coronary disease in two large case-control datasets. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified nine genetic variants associated with fasting proinsulin. Our findings illuminate the biology underlying glucose homeostasis and T2D development in humans and argue against a direct role of proinsulin in coronary artery disease pathogenesis