This book presents geological characteristics and evolution of the fold belts and the cratonic areas of the Indian shield. It evaluates the different evolutionary models for each fold belt in light ...of all the currently available information.
Highlights • Quercetin decreases ROS production and increases MnSOD activity. • It also prevents aluminum-induced neuronal apoptosis and reduces DNA fragmentation. • It also attenuates ...aluminum-induced mitochondrial swelling, loss of cristae and chromatin condensation. • Finally, it acts as an effective antioxidant in vivo against aluminum-induced neurotoxicity.
The area of buyer-supplier risk management is increasingly drawing the attention of academicians and professionals. However, less focus has been given to identifying the right mitigation strategy ...(specifically, bridging and buffering) for firms having different strategic orientations (such as, prospector, defender and analyzer). To this end, we review the literature and present a theoretical model grounded in strategic choice theory that explores how firms operating in different business environments respond to buyer-supplier risk by adopting appropriate mitigation strategies. The relationship between buyer and supplier is influenced by motivating factors (for example, trust and dependence) as they are the key elements of social exchange theory. Based on a sample of 184 responses from a survey with Indian organizations, we validate the theoretical model and test the research hypotheses using structural equation modelling. Findings reveal that the decision of firms to adopt a particular mitigation strategy varies with the environment in which the firm operates and this decision is majorly influenced by motivating factors. Another interesting finding shows that these mitigation strategies help the firms in managing buyer-supplier risk and enhancing downstream supply chain performance.
•Identify right mitigation strategy for firms having different strategic orientations.•Bridging and Buffering as risk mitigation strategy.•Prospector, defender and analyzer as different strategic orientations.•Conceptual framework to establish relationship among business constructs.•CFA and SEM to verify relationships established using conceptual framework.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to a group of neurodevelopmental disorders including autism, Asperger's syndrome (AS) and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). The ...new diagnostic criteria of ASD focuses on two core domains: social communication impairment and restricted interests/repetitive behaviors. The prevalence of ASD has been steadily increasing over the past two decades, with current estimates reaching up to 1 in 36 children. Hereditary factors, parental history of psychiatric disorders, pre-term births, and fetal exposure to psychotropic drugs or insecticides have all been linked to higher risk of ASD. Several scales such as the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), The Autism Spectrum Disorder–Observation for Children (ASD-OC), The Developmental, Dimensional, and Diagnostic Interview (3di), are available to aid in better assessing the behaviors and symptoms associated with ASD. Nearly 75% of ASD patients suffer from comorbid psychiatric illnesses or conditions, which may include attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, Tourette syndrome, and others. Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions are available for ASD. Pharmacological treatments include psychostimulants, atypical antipsychotics, antidepressants, and alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists. These medications provide partial symptomatic relief of core symptoms of ASD or manage the symptoms of comorbid conditions. Non-pharmacological interventions, which show promising evidence in improving social interaction and verbal communication of ASD patients, include music therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and social behavioral therapy. Hormonal therapies with oxytocyin or vasopressin receptor antagonists have also shown some promise in improving core ASD symptoms. The use of vitamins, herbal remedies and nutritional supplements in conjunction with pharmacological and behavioral treatment appear to have some effect in symptomatic improvement in ASD, though additional studies are needed to confirm these benefits. Developing novel disease-modifying therapies may prove to be the ultimate intervention for sustained improvement of symptoms in ASD.
Recently, a novel coronavirus (SARS‐COV‐2) emerged which is responsible for the recent outbreak in Wuhan, China. Genetically, it is closely related to SARS‐CoV and MERS‐CoV. The situation is getting ...worse and worse, therefore, there is an urgent need for designing a suitable peptide vaccine component against the SARS‐COV‐2. Here, we characterized spike glycoprotein to obtain immunogenic epitopes. Next, we chose 13 Major Histocompatibility Complex‐(MHC) I and 3 MHC‐II epitopes, having antigenic properties. These epitopes are usually linked to specific linkers to build vaccine components and molecularly dock on toll‐like receptor‐5 to get binding affinity. Therefore, to provide a fast immunogenic profile of these epitopes, we performed immunoinformatics analysis so that the rapid development of the vaccine might bring this disastrous situation to the end earlier.
Highlights
The potential epitopes of coronavirus (SARS‐CoV‐2) are identified.
The docking complex of the construct vaccine and TLR5 is described.
Peptide‐based vaccine developed and in silico validation is provided.
Common epitopes of coronavirus (SARS‐CoV‐2) against B‐cells and T‐cells are listed.
Membrane technology remains the most energy‐efficient process for removing contaminants (micrometer‐size particles to angstrom‐size hydrated ions) from water. However, the current membrane ...technology, involving relatively expensive synthetic materials, is often nonsustainable for the poorest communities in the society. In this article, perspectives are provided on the emerging nanocellulose‐enabled membrane technology based on nanoscale cellulose fibers that can be extracted from almost any biomass. It is conceivable that nanocellulose membranes developed from inexpensive, abundant, and sustainable resources (such as agriculture residues and underutilized biomass waste) can lower the cost of membrane separation, as these membranes offer the ability to remove a range of pollutants in one step, via size exclusion and/or adsorption. The nanocellulose‐enabled membrane technology not only may be suitable for tackling global drinking water challenges, but it can also provide a new low‐cost platform for various pressure‐driven filtration techniques, such as microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis. Some relevant parameters that can control the filtration performance of nanocellulose‐enabled membranes are comprehensively discussed. A short review of the current state of development for nanocellulose membranes is also provided.
Membrane technology remains the most energy‐efficient process for removing contaminants from water. However, the current membrane technology, involving relatively expensive synthetic materials, is often nonsustainable for the poorest communities in the society. In this article, perspectives are provided on the emerging nanocellulose‐enabled membrane technology based on nanoscale cellulose fibers that can be extracted from almost any biomass.
▶ The maximum soil moisture content, infiltration rate and grain yield of maize and wheat recorded higher in mulching practices over no mulch treatment. ▶ Polythene mulch and straw mulch were almost ...equally valuable in maize and wheat sequence. ▶ Tillage (minimum) and mulch (polythene and straw) have pronounced effect on soil physical properties (improved infiltration rate and conserve soil water), energy requirement, economics and growth of maize and wheat.
Different tillage systems (conventional, minimum, raised bed and no tillage) and four mulch levels (control, polythene, straw and soil) were compared in maize (Z
ea mays) and wheat (T
riticum aestivum) production for three years on an experimental field (sandy loam) located at Dry Land Research Sub Station, Dhiansar, Jammu. Each treatment was replicated four times in split plot design. The aim of the research was to determine the influence of tillage and mulch practices on economics, energy requirement, soil physical properties and performance of maize and wheat. Tillage methods significantly affected the soil physical properties as change in soil moisture contents and infiltration rate of soil was recorded. The soil moisture contents in minimum tillage (MT) were maximum (12.4%, 16.6%) in surface soil as compared to conventional tillage (CT) in maize and wheat crops, respectively. Comparing to the CT infiltration rate was (1.16times, 1.21times and 1.11times) higher in minimum tillage (MT), no tillage (NT) and raised bed (RB), respectively in
kharif season. Similar results were also found in
rabi season. The greatest maize yield of 1865
kg
ha
−1 was achieved with CT system while not significantly lower yield was achieved with MT system (1837
kg
ha
−1). However, wheat yield was recorded higher in MT as compare to the CT system. Comparing to the energy requirement of different operations, MT required 34.3% less, NT 31.1% less and RB 46.0% less than the CT system. MT system saved 2.5 times energy in tillage operation compared to the CT system. The economic analysis also revealed that the maximum benefits could be obtained from MT (EUR 202.4
ha
−1) followed by RB (EUR 164.2
ha
−1) and NT (EUR 158.3
ha
−1) and lowest in CT (EUR 149.5
ha
−1). Benefit-cost ratio was highest in MT (0.71) and lowest in CT (0.44). Results revealed that mulch significantly affected the soil physical properties and growth of maize. The maximum soil moisture content, infiltration rate and grain yield of maize and wheat recorded higher in mulching practices over no mulch treatment. Polythene mulch and straw mulch were almost equally valuable in maize and wheat sequence. Tillage (minimum) and mulch (polythene and straw) have pronounced effect on soil physical properties (improved infiltration rate and conserve soil water), energy requirement, economics and growth of maize and wheat.
The past 15 years have seen an explosion of discoveries related to the cellular regulation of phenotypes through epigenetic mechanisms. This regulation provides a software that packages DNA, without ...changing the primary base sequence, to establish heritable patterns of gene expression. In cancer, many aspects of the epigenome, controlled by DNA methylation, chromatin, and nucleosome positioning, are altered as one means by which tumor cells maintain abnormal states of self-renewal at the expense of normal maturation. Epigenetic and genetic abnormalities thus collaborate in cancer initiation and progression, as exemplified by frequent mutations in genes encoding proteins that control the epigenome. There is growing emphasis on using epigenetic therapies to reprogram neoplastic cells toward a normal state. Many agents targeting epigenetic regulation are under development and entering clinical trials. This review highlights the promise that epigenetic therapy, often in combination with other therapies, will become a potent tool for cancer management over the next decade.
Postharvest diseases cause considerable losses to harvested fruits and vegetables during transportation and storage. Synthetic fungicides are primarily used to control postharvest decay loss. ...However, the recent trend is shifting toward safer and more eco-friendly alternatives for the control of postharvest decays. Of various biological approaches, the use of antagonistic microorganisms is becoming popular throughout the world. Several postharvest diseases can now be controlled by microbial antagonists. Although the mechanism(s) by which microbial antagonists suppress the postharvest diseases is still unknown, competition for nutrients and space is most widely accepted mechanism of their action. In addition, production of antibiotics, direct parasitism, and possibly induced resistance in the harvested commodity are other modes of their actions by which they suppress the activity of postharvest pathogens in fruits and vegetables. Microbial antagonists are applied either before or after harvest, but postharvest applications are more effective than preharvest applications. Mixed cultures of the microbial antagonists appear to provide better control of postharvest diseases over individual cultures or strains. Similarly, the efficacy of the microbial antagonist(s) can be enhanced if they are used with low doses of fungicides, salt additives, and physical treatments like hot water dips, irradiation with ultraviolet light etc. At the international level, different microbial antagonists like
Debaryomyces hansenii Lodder & Krejer-van Rij,
Cryptococcus laurentii Kufferath & Skinner,
Bacillus subtilis (Ehrenberg) Cohn, and
Trichoderma harzianum Rifai, are being used. Biocontrol products like Aspire, BioSave, and Shemer etc., have also been developed and registered. Although the results of this technology are encouraging, we need to continue to explore potential uses on the commercial scale in different corners of the world.
Purpose
A well-designed supply chain performance measurement system, should account for not only the capabilities and performance attributes of the focal firm but also its supply chain partners. The ...purpose of this paper is to help design a system that strikes a balance between the strategic objectives of the focal firm and its supply partners vis-à-vis the requirements of supply chain performance (cost, quality, speed and customer taste).
Design/methodology/approach
A theoretical framework on the strategic supply chain performance measurement system is developed based on existing literature and subsequently tested using a survey on 136 successful manufacturing organizations in India. The organizations were clustered into three strategy types and compared using analysis of variance on ranks to look for differences in preference for performance parameters.
Findings
The study examined the five dimensions of the supply chain practices, namely, strategic supply/distribution network, customer relationship, internal operations, information sharing and social and environmental responsiveness. The empirical results demonstrate the inclusion of business strategy orientation in designing today’s supply chain and hence its performance measurement system. Not supported hypotheses were addressed in the light of contextual factors.
Research limitations/implications
The study is confined to finding preferences of non-financial aspects of supply chain performance and tier-1 suppliers. The research helps better design and benchmark supply chain performance metrics, based on the strategic choice of the firm.
Originality/value
This paper highlights the shortcomings in the existing performance measurement and gaps in the existing literature in the supply chain context. Further, it gives a holistic view of strategic supply chain performance measurement design.
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