Climate change is an invisible, silent killer with calamitous effects on living organisms. As the sessile organism, plants experience a diverse array of abiotic stresses during ontogenesis. The ...relentless climatic changes amplify the intensity and duration of stresses, making plants dwindle to survive. Plants convert 1-2% of consumed oxygen into reactive oxygen species (ROS), in particular, singlet oxygen (
O
), superoxide radical (O
), hydrogen peroxide (H
O
), hydroxyl radical (
OH), etc. as a byproduct of aerobic metabolism in different cell organelles such as chloroplast, mitochondria, etc. The regulatory network comprising enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems tends to keep the magnitude of ROS within plant cells to a non-damaging level. However, under stress conditions, the production rate of ROS increases exponentially, exceeding the potential of antioxidant scavengers instigating oxidative burst, which affects biomolecules and disturbs cellular redox homeostasis. ROS are similar to a double-edged sword; and, when present below the threshold level, mediate redox signaling pathways that actuate plant growth, development, and acclimatization against stresses. The production of ROS in plant cells displays both detrimental and beneficial effects. However, exact pathways of ROS mediated stress alleviation are yet to be fully elucidated. Therefore, the review deposits information about the status of known sites of production, signaling mechanisms/pathways, effects, and management of ROS within plant cells under stress. In addition, the role played by advancement in modern techniques such as molecular priming, systems biology, phenomics, and crop modeling in preventing oxidative stress, as well as diverting ROS into signaling pathways has been canvassed.
The tobacco industry has made a gradual move from developed countries to developing countries to expand its market. As part of this trend, tobacco companies in India invest a substantial amount of ...money in marketing activities. Although the government of India has gradually been increasing restrictions on marketing and sales of tobacco products, the creative and evolving marketing practices of tobacco companies have ensured that such measures have little effect. In this perspective paper, a critical evaluation of marketing practices used by the tobacco industry in India suggests that pro-tobacco marketing is a major hurdle towards bringing effective tobacco control policies and their successful implementation. It is demonstrated that the big tobacco companies in India backed by immense resources have been capable of countering the various legislative provisions for tobacco control in India through creative and manipulative marketing practices.
Bananas are exposed to serious post-harvest problems resulting in agricultural and economic losses across the world. The severity of problem is linked with the process of rapid ripening and pathogens ...attack. Such problems have led to economic losses as well as a lower yield of nutritionally rich bananas. The global demand to increase the life span of bananas and their protection from pathogens-borne diseases urged the use of antimicrobial edible coatings of nanoparticles. The present experiment has explored the innovative development of green synthesized nanoparticles from Eucalyptus leaf extract (ELE) to increase the shelf life of bananas up to 32 days from the day of collection. Statistically significant results were recorded (P = 0.05) by applying five different concentrations of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in ranges of 0.01-0.05%. Various morphological and physiological parameters such as color, decay, firmness, weight loss, pulp to peel ratio, pH, titrable acidity (TA), phenolic contents, protein estimation, ethylene production, starch content and total soluble sugars were measured in Cavendish banana (Basrai). Bananas treated with 0.01% AgNPs showed maximum control on its ripeness over morphological and physiological changes. The increase in shelf life was in order 0.01%>0.02%>0.03%>0.04%>0.05%> control. Further, AgNPs reduced the process of ripening by controlling ethylene production. The result has also proved the safety of banana consumption by simple removal of banana peel as penetration of AgNPs from the peel to the pulp was not detected. It is recommended to use 0.01% AgNPs to enhance the shelf life of banana without effecting its nutritive value.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Entrepreneurship and its influence on the development of the economy are significant in competitive global advancement. Entrepreneurs need entrepreneurial intentions to improve the commercial ...environment of the country. Therefore, studying entrepreneurial intentions’ influencing predictors is vital for business development. We collected data from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) employees of the developing country and used partial least square structured equation modeling to analyze the proposed relationships. The results assist the literature extension and practically contribute to developing entrepreneurs’ intentions through education and opportunity recognition. The findings aid the institutions in improving course planning and establishing practical business setups. This study facilitates the government’s ideas of commencing entrepreneurial businesses through proper resource provisions for the entrepreneurs.
This study investigates the relationship between supervisory behavior, conflict management strategies, and sustainable employee performance and inquires the mediating effect of conflict management ...strategies. Data were collected from the SMEs of the manufacturing industry of Pakistan. The significance of the model was assessed using the PLS-SEM (structural equation modeling). The findings of the study revealed a positive and significant relationship between supervisory behavior and sustainable employee behavior. Similarly, conflict management strategies had a positive effect on the relationship between supervisory behavior and sustainable employee behavior. This study adds in the current literature of supervisory behavior as a critical predictor of sustainable employee performance in two ways. Firstly, this study validates Conflict management strategies as an influential mediator between the relationship of supervisory behavior and sustainable employee performance. Secondly, this study provides substantial practical implications for managers at SMEs to enhance sustainable employee performance through supervisory behavior, stimulated by conflict management strategies. This study is based on cross-sectional data; more longitudinal studies can further strengthen the generalizability of relationships between the constructs. The study adds in the current literature of PLS-SEM as an assessment model for direct and mediation relationships.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Efficient targeted therapy with minimal side-effects is the need of the hour. Locally altered redox state is observed in several human ailments, such as inflammation, sepsis, and cancer. This has ...been taken advantage of in designing redox-responsive nanodrug carriers. Redox-responsive nanosystems open a door to a multitude of possibilities for the control of diseases over other drug delivery systems. Recent Advances: The first-generation nanotherapy relies on novel properties of nanomaterials to shield the drug and deliver it to the diseased tissue or organ. The second generation is based on targeting the drug or diagnostic material to the diseased cell-specific receptors, or to a particular organ to improve the efficacy of the drug. The third and the latest generation of nanocarriers, the stimuli-responsive nanocarriers exploit the disease condition or environment to specifically deliver the drug or diagnostic probe for the best diagnosis and treatment. Several different kinds of stimuli such as temperature, magnetic field, pH, and altered redox state-responsive nanosystems have educed immense promise in the field of nanomedicine and therapy.
We describe the evolution of nanomaterial since its inception with an emphasis on stimuli-responsive nanocarriers, especially redox-sensitive nanocarriers. Importantly, we discuss the future perspectives of redox-responsive nanocarriers and their implications.
Redox-responsive nanocarriers achieve a near-to-zero premature release of the drug, thus avoiding off-site toxicity associated with the free drug. This bears great potential for the development of more effective drug delivery with better pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
Extensive research has been dedicated to develop compounds that can target multiple aspects of Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment due to a growing understanding of AD's complex multifaceted nature ...and various interconnected pathological pathways. In the present study, a series of biological assays were performed to evaluate the potential of the tryptamine analogues synthesized earlier in our lab as multi-target-directed ligands (MTDLs) for AD. To assess the inhibitory effects of the compounds, various in vitro assays were employed. Three compounds,
,
, and
displayed significant AChE inhibitory activity, with IC
values of 0.70 µM, 0.17 µM, and 1.00 µM, respectively. These values superseded the standard drug donepezil (1.96 µM). In the MAO-B inhibition assay,
(IC
= 43.21 µM) demonstrated superior inhibitory effects as compared to tryptamine and other derivatives. Moreover,
(84.08%),
(79.30%), and
(75.16%) exhibited notable percent inhibition against the COX-2 enzyme at a tested concentration of 100 µM. To gain insights into their binding mode and to validate the biological results, molecular docking studies were conducted. Overall, the results suggest that
, a 4,5 nitro-benzoyl derivative of tryptamine, exhibited significant potential as a MTDL and warrants further investigation for the development of anti-Alzheimer agents.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
This study investigates the impact of transformational leadership on employee retention in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and probes the mediating role of organizational citizenship ...behavior (OCB) and the moderating role of communication. Data were collected using convenience sampling from 505 employees of SMEs. A Smart PLS structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to estimate the various relationships. The findings of the study reveal a positive and significant relationship between transformational leadership and OCB. Similarly, this study finds a positive and significant relationship in OCB and employee retention. In addition, OCB had a positive mediating effect on the relationship between transformational leadership and employee retention. Furthermore, communication positively moderates the transformational leadership- OCB and OCB-employee retention relationships. Leaders at SMEs should implement the traits of transformational leadership such as developing a compelling vision for employees, focusing on goal achievement, having problem-solving techniques, having a sense of purpose, and spending time on the training and development of the team to enhance OCB and employee retention.
The genetic differentiation of teak meta-population in India was investigated in relation to geographical and climatic variations employing dominant ISSR markers followed by Bayesian statistical ...analysis to understand adaptability of the species. The analysis based on 290 teak genotypes representing 29 locations of its natural distribution and 43 ISSR loci exhibited an insignificant structure and low 2.76% LD (≥ 0.1
R
2
values,
p
< 0.001) in teak meta-population. The genetic and geographical variables despite acting independently with each other resulted in three sub-population clusters in the meta-population. The geographical barrier played a significant role in direction/restriction of gene flow. The integration of spatial/climatic variables altered the clustering pattern of the teak meta-population with signature of the adaptation to the temperature and longitudinal gradients that was also verified by the similar adaptation pattern of meta-population towards predicted global climate modeling for year 2050. The findings can help tackle the sustainable management and conservation of the species and its survival quotient in threat of changing climatic conditions.
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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