Multinationality and performance literature: a critical review and future research agenda

The literature on the relationship between the degree of multinationality (M) and performance (P) in the context of multinational enterprises (MNEs) has attracted a large volume of research in the past 50 years. Yet, the theoretical foundations and the empirical conclusions concerning the nature of M–P relationship vary greatly, thus call for a critical review and assessment. We examine 135 articles in 39 leading scholarly journals and classic books published during the period 1960–2015. We use an inductive approach and a qualitative content analysis methodology for our comprehensive and critical review of the literature. We incorporate international business, finance, and accounting perspectives in our analysis. We review the conceptualization and measurement of M, P, the findings on M–P relationships, methodologies, and geographic focus. We identify six key inconsistencies in the existing research, which cause ambiguity in the relevant findings. We make eight recommendations for future research to address these inconsistencies. Thus, our study contributes to the central debate in this research field

RGD-tagged helical rosette nanotubes aggravate acute lipopolysaccharide-induced lung inflammation

Sarabjeet Singh Suri1, Steven Mills1, Gurpreet Kaur Aulakh1, Felaniaina Rakotondradany2, Hicham Fenniri2, Baljit Singh11Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon; 2National Institute for Nanotechnology and Department of Chemistry, Edmonton, CanadaAbstract: Rosette nanotubes (RNT) are a novel class of self-assembled biocompatible nanotubes that offer a built-in strategy for engineering structure and function through covalent tagging of synthetic self-assembling modules (G∧C motif). In this report, the G∧C motif was tagged with peptide Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Lys (RGDSK-G∧C) and amino acid Lys (K-G∧C) which, upon co-assembly, generate RNTs featuring RGDSK and K on their surface in predefined molar ratios. These hybrid RNTs, referred to as Kx/RGDSKy-RNT, where x and y refer to the molar ratios of K-G∧C and RGDSK–G∧C, were designed to target neutrophil integrins. A mouse model was used to investigate the effects of intravenous Kx/RGDSKy-RNT on acute lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung inflammation. Healthy male C57BL/6 mice were treated intranasally with Escherichia coli LPS 80 µg and/or intravenously with K90/RGDSK10-RNT. Here we provide the first evidence that intravenous administration of K90/RGDSK10-RNT aggravates the proinflammatory effect of LPS in the mouse. LPS and K90/RGDSK10-RNT treatment groups showed significantly increased infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid at all time points compared with the saline control. The combined effect of LPS and K90/RGDSK10-RNT was more pronounced than LPS alone, as shown by a significant increase in the expression of interleukin-1ß, MCP-1, MIP-1, and KC-1 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and myeloperoxidase activity in the lung tissues. We conclude that K90/RGDSK10-RNT promotes acute lung inflammation, and when used along with LPS, leads to exaggerated immune response in the lung.Keywords: RGD peptide, helical rosette nanotubes, neutrophils, macrophages, chemokines, inflammatio

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Not AvailableOwing global climate change, surveillance is essential tool to detect changes in pattern of diseases in the crops. To fulfill this purpose surveys were conducted from 2013-18 in five maize growing zones of India viz., Northern hill Zone (NHZ), Northern West Plain Zone (NWPZ), Northern East Plain Zone (NEPZ), Peninsular Zone (PZ) and Central Western Zone (CWZ). The percent disease index (PDI) of maydis leaf blight (MLB) was moderate (45) to high (65) in 4 zones (NHZ, NWPZ, NEPZ and PZ) while low in CWZ (25). Though the lowest incidence of turcicum leaf blight (TLB) was reported from CWZ in 2013 but it has increased consistently. PDI of TLB was highest (46) in 2016 in NHZ whereas banded leaf and sheath blight (BLSB) appeared at higher intensity in NHZ and NWPZ. Moderate (42) infection of curvularia leaf spot (CLS) was observed in all the five zones whereas bacterial stalk rot (BSR) was restricted to NHZ and NWPZ with moderate infection (33-47). Post flowering stalk rots (Charcoal and Fusarium stalk rot) appeared at higher intensity in all the 4 zones except NEPZ. PDI of brown spot (BS) ranged from 15-47 in NHZ and CWZ. Sorghum downy mildew (SDM), polysora rust (PR) and wilt were observed with very low infection from PZ while bacterial leaf streak (BLS) and brown stripe downy mildew (BSDM) were observed in NWPZ. This study revealed that there is need to develop effective management toolsfor MLB, TLB, PFSR and BLSB as these are the most prevalent maize diseases in present scenarioNot Availabl