Responsible innovation in emerging markets' SMEs: The role of alliance learning and absorptive capacity

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Efficient design for smart environment using Raspberry Pi with Blockchain and IoT (BRIoT)

Internet of Things (IoT) is reshaping digital world day by day by integrating several technologies to provide smart services. However, intrinsic features of IoT resulting in a number of challenges, such as decentralization, poor interoperability, privacy, confidentiality, and security vulnerabilities. Several security techniques like encryption, third-party software’s are in use currently to protect users data. Blockchain was initially established for digital crypto currencies with a Proof of Work (PoW) consensus process and the advantage of smart contracts, which enabled distributed trust without the involvement of a third party. Its distributed trust concept paved the way for many other developments, such as the development of new consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Stake (PoS) and Proof of Authority (PoA), which aided in the adoption of Blockchain with low computation machines into sectors such as smart industry and smart transportation. Blockchain implementation in IoT can address the security issue, here we proposed a design using Raspberry Pi as edge node (BRIoT)

Lectin status, protein contents and ammonium assimilating enzymatic activity of two indigenous cultivars of mulberry species, Morus alba and Morus nigra

The studies were carried out with plantlets of two indigenous cultivars of mulberry species Morus alba and Morus nigra grown in soil less cultures, where extracts from roots, shoots, leaves, and reproductive organs were determined for protein content, agglutination of human erythrocytes and theactivity of the ammonium assimilatory enzyme glutamine synthetase. M. nigra and M. alba extracts contained potent phytoagglutinins in various tissues with highest contents in M. nigra. The leaves and roots of both species of mulberry were used to determine the glutamine synthetase activity and high level of activity was found in both tissues. The glutamine synthetase enzymatic activity was higher in roots (1.37 ìmol.gfw-1.min-1). The extract from all tissues of both species were used to determine the total protein contents and proteins found higher in the leaves (2.129 ìg/gfw in M. nigra and 0.973 ìg/gfw in M. alba)

Detecting fake news and disinformation using artificial intelligence and machine learning to avoid supply chain disruptions

Fake news and disinformation (FNaD) are increasingly being circulated through various online and social networking platforms, causing widespread disruptions and influencing decision-making perceptions. Despite the growing importance of detecting fake news in politics, relatively limited research efforts have been made to develop artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) oriented FNaD detection models suited to minimize supply chain disruptions (SCDs). Using a combination of AI and ML, and case studies based on data collected from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan, we developed a FNaD detection model aimed at preventing SCDs. This model based on multiple data sources has shown evidence of its effectiveness in managerial decision-making. Our study further contributes to the supply chain and AI-ML literature, provides practical insights, and points to future research directions

Synthesis and consecutive reactions of a-azido ketones: a review

This review paper covers the major synthetic approaches attempted towards the synthesis of α-azido ketones, as well as the synthetic applications/consecutive reactions of α-azido ketones

Role of University Education in Poverty Alleviation in Pakistan

The role of university education, a central part of most development strategies, has become controversial because expansion of PhD’s by the Higher Education Commissions (HEC) attainment has guaranteed improved economic conditions. HEC promoted the higher education by providing different indigenous and international scholarships, which ultimately improved the standard of living of the students and attainment of well reputed jobs in different institutions of Pakistan, leads to alleviate the poverty relatively. This paper reviews the role of education in promoting economic well-being focusing on the role of educational quality. Much evidence from developing countries suggests that education has strong influence in reducing poverty. The main purpose of this study was to examine the effects of some of the key macroeconomic variables on Pakistan’s economic growth during 1980-2007 taking four different education levels including students enrollment at the university level as a ratio to total employed labour force. It concludes that there is strong evidence that the cognitive skills of the population-rather than mere school attainment-are powerfully related to individual earnings, to the distribution of income, and to economic growth. University education does not play a significant role in poverty alleviation. The magnitude of change needed makes it clear that closing the economic gap with industrial countries will require major structural changes in schooling institutions

Comparison of the ‘Denver regimen’ against acute tuberculosis in the mouse and guinea pig

Objectives: In this study, we sought to compare the sterilizing activity of human-equivalent doses of the ‘Denver regimen ’ against acute tuberculosis (TB) infection in the standard mouse model and in the guinea pig. Methods: Pharmacokinetic studies in guinea pigs were used to establish human-equivalent doses for rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide. Guinea pigs and mice were aerosol-infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis CDC1551 and treatment was started 2 weeks later with rifampicin/isoniazid/pyrazinamide for up to 6 months. For the first 2 weeks of therapy, the dosing frequency was 5 days/week, and for the remaining period, twice weekly. Treatment was discontinued in groups of 30 mice and 10 guinea pigs at 5 months and at 6 months, and these animals were held for a further 3 months in order to assess relapse rates. Results: Guinea pig lungs became culture-negative after 3 months of predominantly twice-weekly treatment and relapse rates were 0 % (0/10) both after 5 months and after 6 months of treatment. In contrast, all mice remained culture-positive despite 6 months of the same treatment, and 93 % (28/30) and 69 % (20/29) of mice relapsed after treatment for 5 and 6 months, respectively. Conclusions: Treatment with rifampicin/isoniazid/pyrazinamide administered at human-equivalent doses is much more potent against acute TB infection in guinea pigs than in mice. Our findings have importan

Osthole: A Multifunctional Natural Compound with Potential Anticancer, Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activities

Nature has always proved to be a significant reservoir of bioactive scaffolds that have been used for the discovery of drugs since times. Medicinal plants continue to be a solid niche for biologically active and therapeutically effective chemical entities, opening up new avenues for the successful treatment of several human diseases. The contribution of plant-derived compounds to drug discovery, either in their original or in the semi-synthetic derivative form, extends far back in time. This review aims to focus on the sources, biological, and pharmacological profile of a pharmacologically active plant-derived coumarin, osthole, which is an important component of numerous remedial plants such as Cnidium monnieri. Several studies have revealed that osthole possess pharmacological properties such as anticancer, antioxidant, anti-hyperglycemic, neuroprotective, and antiplatelet. Osthole has been reported to regulate various signaling pathways, which in turn modulate several apoptosis-related pro-teins, cell cycle regulators, protein kinases, transcriptional factors, cytokines, and growth receptors affiliated with inflammation, proliferation and several other ailments. Osthole is known to halt proliferation and metastasis of cancerous cells by arresting the cell cycle and inducing apoptosis. The data in this review paper supports the pharmacological potential of osthole but further experimentation, biosafety profiling and synergistic effects of this compound need to be focused by the researchers to understand the full spectrum of pharmacological potential of this therapeutically potent compound

Involvement of the Cytokine MIF in the Snail Host Immune Response to the Parasite Schistosoma mansoni

We have identified and characterized a Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) family member in the Lophotrochozoan invertebrate, Biomphalaria glabrata, the snail intermediate host of the human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni. In mammals, MIF is a widely expressed pleiotropic cytokine with potent pro-inflammatory properties that controls cell functions such as gene expression, proliferation or apoptosis. Here we show that the MIF protein from B. glabrata (BgMIF) is expressed in circulating immune defense cells (hemocytes) of the snail as well as in the B. glabrata embryonic (Bge) cell line that has hemocyte-like features. Recombinant BgMIF (rBgMIF) induced cell proliferation and inhibited NO-dependent p53-mediated apoptosis in Bge cells. Moreover, knock-down of BgMIF expression in Bge cells interfered with the in vitro encapsulation of S. mansoni sporocysts. Furthermore, the in vivo knock-down of BgMIF prevented the changes in circulating hemocyte populations that occur in response to an infection by S. mansoni miracidia and led to a significant increase in the parasite burden of the snails. These results provide the first functional evidence that a MIF ortholog is involved in an invertebrate immune response towards a parasitic infection and highlight the importance of cytokines in invertebrate-parasite interactions

Bacterial plant biostimulants: A sustainable way towards improving growth, productivity, and health of crops

This review presents a comprehensive and systematic study of the field of bacterial plant biostimulants and considers the fundamental and innovative principles underlying this technology. Plant biostimulants are an important tool for modern agriculture as part of an integrated crop management (ICM) system, helping make agriculture more sustainable and resilient. Plant biostimulants contain substance(s) and/or microorganisms whose function when applied to plants or the rhizosphere is to stimulate natural processes to enhance plant nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, biocontrol, and crop quality. The use of plant biostimulants has gained substantial and significant heed worldwide as an environmentally friendly alternative to sustainable agricultural production. At present, there is an increasing curiosity in industry and researchers about microbial biostimulants, especially bacterial plant biostimulants (BPBs), to improve crop growth and productivity. The BPBs that are based on PGPR (plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria) play plausible roles to promote/stimulate crop plant growth through several mechanisms that include (i) nutrient acquisition by nitrogen (N2) fixation and solubilization of insoluble minerals (P, K, Zn), organic acids and siderophores; (ii) antimicrobial metabolites and various lytic enzymes; (iii) the action of growth regulators and stress-responsive/induced phytohormones; (iv) ameliorating abiotic stress such as drought, high soil salinity, extreme temperatures, oxidative stress, and heavy metals by using different modes of action; and (v) plant defense induction modes. Presented here is a brief review emphasizing the applicability of BPBs as an innovative exertion to fulfill the current food crisis