Heartwood Extractives of Robinia Pseudoacacia Wood

In this study, extracts from the heartwood of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) were obtained with ethanol solvent before and after extraction with n-hexane. Chemical composition were analyzed and compared by GC-MS. The results showed that the major components in the heartwood ethanol extract before extraction with n-hexane solvent to be the (23S)-ethylcholest-5-en-3.beta.-ol (18.33%), while the major heartwood ethanol extracts constituents after extraction with n-hexane solvent was resorcinol (51.96%). The same components of the heartwood ethanol extracts before and after extraction with n-hexane solvent also contained amounts of the Hexadecanoic acid and 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-. The other main components of the ethanol extract mainly contained about 13.75% stigmasterol, 9.35% 9,19- Cyclolanostan-3-ol, 24-methylene-, (3.beta.)-, 7.11% Lup-20(29)-en-3- one, 6.27% 9,12,15-Octadecatrien-1- ol, (Z,Z,Z)-, 6.06% Hexadecanoic acid 4.54% Ergost-5-en-3-ol, (3.beta.)-, and 3.53% campesterol

Systematic Review of Molecular Biomarkers Predictive of Resistance to CDK4/6 Inhibition in Metastatic Breast Cancer

Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of hormone-positive metastatic breast cancers (mBCs). They are currently established as standard therapies in combination with endocrine therapy as first- and second-line systemic treatment options for both endocrine-sensitive and endocrine-resistant mBC populations. In the first-line metastatic setting, the median progression-free survival for the three currently approved CDK4/6 inhibitors, palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib, with aromatase inhibitors is greater than 2 years (palbociclib 27.6 months; ribociclib 25.3 months; and abemaciclib 28.18 months). Although CDK4/6 inhibitors have significant clinical benefits and enable physicians to delay starting chemotherapy, they are expensive and can be associated with drug toxicities. Here, we have performed a systemic review of the reported molecular markers predictive of drug response including intrinsic and acquired resistance for CDK4/6 inhibition in mBC. The rapidly emerging molecular landscape is captured through next-generation sequencing of breast cancers (DNA with or without RNA), liquid biopsies (circulating tumor DNA), and protein analyses. Individual molecular candidates with robust and reliable evidence are discussed in more depth

IDENTIFYING SUITABLE LOCATIONS FOR MANGROVE PLANTATION USING GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION SYSTEM AND REMOTE SENSING

Mangroves provide numerous environmental benefits, such as carbon sequestration, water purification, climate change mitigation, and flood and Tsunami impact reduction. Despite these unique advantages, mangroves are threatened by the combined adverse impacts of human activities and climate change. Therefore, it is essential to implement reasonable practices to avoid further degradation of mangroves and provide efficient workflows to increase their extent. Accordingly, better plantation policies are principally required for their conservation and rehabilitation. In this study, we desired to detect suitable locations for mangrove plantation in coastal areas of Hormozgan Province, Iran. We considered a relatively new Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) technique to combine ten criteria derived from remote sensing in a GIS environment. The Best Worst Method (BWM), as an MDCM technique, was implemented to determine the relative importance of each criterion. Afterward, all criteria were aggregated using the Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) method to produce a mangrove plantation suitability map. Statistical measures, including Overall Accuracy (OA = 95%), Kappa Coefficient (KC = 87.9%), and Area Under Curve (AUC = 98.79%), indicated the high applicability of the implemented method for mangrove plantation site allocation. The produced map could give managers a profound insight into finding optimal spots to plant mangroves

FLOOD SUSCEPTIBILITY MODELLING USING GEOSPATIAL-BASED MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION MAKING IN LARGE SCALE AREAS

Flood is one of the most hazardous natural disasters that cause damages and poses a major threat to human lives and infrastructures worldwide, and its prevention is almost unfeasible. Thus, the detection of flood susceptible areas can be a key to lessen the amount of destruction and mortality. This study aims to implement a framework to identify flood potential zones in an ungauged large-scale area with frequent flood events in recent years. We used two Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) approaches combined with geospatial analysis, and remote sensing observations for this susceptibility analysis. Nine geomorphological and environmental factors that have an impact on flood behaviour were selected and used for susceptibility modelling. At first, the criteria’s weights were estimated using two MCDM approaches and based on experts’ knowledge. The resultant weights revealed that Flow Accumulation, Topographic wetness index, and Distance to River were the most influential flood susceptibility criteria. After calculating these weights, the criteria’s layers were aggregated through geospatial analysis, which resulted in generating flood susceptibility map. The area under the curve (AUC) and statistical measures such as the Kappa index were used to evaluate the proposed method's efficiency. The validation results illustrate that hybrid FAHP, with AUC= 96.68 and Kappa = 81.36 performed more efficiently than standard AHP, with AUC= 94.53 and Kappa=76.35. Overlaying these maps with the historical flood inventory dataset revealed that 86.43% of flooded areas were categorized as “high” and “very high”. Therefore, the flood susceptibility maps generated through the proposed approach can help the decision-makers and managers allocate the mitigation equipment and facility in data-scarce and ungauged large-scale areas

A critical evaluation of promotional drug literatures available with prescribers at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Gujarat, India

Background: Promotional literature provided by the pharmaceutical companies is one of the important marketing strategies to prescribe. Many of these literatures do not follow ethical guidelines and contain biased and irrelevant information that may cause irrational prescribing. So we did this study with an aim to check the credibility, reliability and authenticity of the PDLs available with prescribers.Methods: Promotional drug literatures were analyzed based on various parameters and guidelines provided by world health organization. Statistical analysis was done using Microsoft Excel.Results: A total 395 promotional drug literatures were analyzed and very few of them fulfilled the ethical criteria for drug promotion. Most of them focused on providing information about generic name, brand name manufacture company name and claims about efficacy. Few of them focused on safety of drugs as less information provided about adverse reaction, precaution and drug-drug interaction. Many of them contain space occupying unnecessary pictures.Conclusions: It can be concluded that the majority of the promotional advertisements that were given to the prescribers do not follow ethical guidelines and were not able to improve rational prescribing but only have commercial benefits

The Role of Green Activity-Based Costing in Achieving Sustainability Development: Evidence From Iraq

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the effects of applying green activity-based costing (GABC) on the Sustainability Development of companies.   Theoretical framework: The theoretical framework included highlight on environmental issues, and the role of Modern methods of Cost and managerial accounting in reducing the harmful effects of industrial waste.   Design/methodology/approach: there are variety of reasons to carry out the study; including regulatory compliance, sustainable consumption, public perception, potential competitive advantages, and the impact of Sustainability Development on economic performance, stakeholders are urging or requiring organizations to be more ecologically conscious with regard to their products and operations. In order to accomplish the study's goals, it was implemented at the Basra Oil Refinery and based on actual data from the study sample's activity. method was relied upon distribution of costs based on green activity, the identification of its effects on the facility's Sustainability Development, and the creation of a model for the use of GABC.   Findings: According to the results of the experimental study, the study's findings that GABC may be used to assign expenditures based on green activity and to show how it affects both economic and Sustainability Development.   Research, Practical & Social implications: Because all manufacturing and consumption activities have some sort of negative impact on the environment during the creation, use, and disposal phases of their respective value chains, environmental management issues have recently been linked to the economy.   Originality/value: The research value of our current study, by employ modern methods of commissioning accounting in Iraqi manufacturing companies

A cross sectional study of various types of acute poisoning; pharmacological management and their outcome in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Acute poisoning is a common and life-threatening crisis, leading to serious complications and death of patients. Poisoning may be due to self-consumption, accidental exposure of chemical compounds, medications and poisonous animal bites/stings. Aim of current study was to investigate the pattern of drug utilization, poisoning agents and outcome in patients with acute poisoning treated at a tertiary care teaching hospital, Vadodara, Gujarat. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was done on patients of acute poisoning admitted in emergency department, SSG Hospital during August 2021-March 2022. Results: 400 patients were enrolled during the study, from which 262 (65.50%) were male and 138 (34.50%) were female. Mean age of patients was 30.30 ± 13.79 years. The commonest mode of poisoning observed was Suicidal (66.25%). The most common cause of poisoning was due to Pesticides (33.25%), followed by venomous animal exposures (30.75%). Death was recorded in 53 (13.25%) patients with highest number seen in suicidal poisoning (14.34%) compared to accidental poisonings (11.19%). Mainly, multivitamins (19.03%), Antimicrobials (16.65%), Proton Pump Inhibitors (15.85%) and Antiemetics (11.10%) were prescribed. Antidotes used were Atropine (4.81%), Pralidoxime (4.46%) and Anti-snake venom (2.80%). Median number of drugs per patient was 8; range: 2-25. Conclusions: Pattern and magnitude of poisoning are multidimensional and demand multi-sectoral approach for facing this problem. Due to high incidence of snakebites, hospital stockpiles should be regularly checked for availability of antivenom. There is a need for stringent pesticide regulation laws, counselling and training programs to reduce incidence of poisonings and deaths due to it

Detecting Sticky Costs in Iraqi Industrial Companies an Empirical Study of a Sample of Iraqi Companies Registered on Iraq Stock Exchange

Purpose: This research aims to reveal the sticky costs in Iraqi joint stock companies.   Theoretical framework: Sticky costs refer to the costs that increase with the increase in revenues by a greater amount than their decrease in exchange for a similar decrease in revenues. To manage cost, it is important to understand and know the behavior of cost.   Design/methodology/approach: This research uses inductive and descriptive analytical methods that is commonly used in applied and field studies on accounting and management issues, as well as in literature and empirical studies to verify research proposals. This study adopted multiple logarithmic linear regression analysis estimated by ordinary least squares (OLS) to examine asymmetrical behavior of selling costs, general and administrative costs, and costs of goods sold individually and collectively (total costs) for a sample (101) of published lists of Iraqi joint stock companies registered in Iraqi Stock Exchange for the period 2010-2019.   Findings: The results showed that sticky behavior of selling and general and administrative costs and their components is a common phenomenon in cost behavior of Iraqi joint stock companies during the study period, while costs of goods sold, and total costs are not. The latter may have been showing anti-sticky behavior.   Research, Practical & Social implications: Our work contrasts the conventional model of cost behaviour, in which costs move proportionately with changes in activity, with an alternative model, in which sticky costs emerge. This is because managers consciously shift the resources devoted to activities.   Originality/value: The sticky cost research that has been done in relation to the initial sticky cost research, particularly in industrialised nations like the UAS, Uk, and Canada, is the main emphasis of this study. Future research will take into account how sticky research is developing in any other nations, which could expand our understanding of sticky cost research as a whole

Bulk-sensitive Photoemission of Mn5Si3

We have carried out a bulk-sensitive high-resolution photoemission experiment on Mn5Si3. The measurements are performed for both core level and valence band states. The Mn core level spectra are deconvoluted into two components corresponding to different crystallographic sites. The asymmetry of each component is of noticeable magnitude. In contrast, the Si 2p spectrum shows a simple Lorentzian shape with low asymmetry. The peaks of the valence band spectrum correspond well to the peak positions predicted by the former band calculation.Comment: To be published in: Solid State Communication