This paper examines the directional spillover between crude oil prices and stock prices of technology and clean energy companies. The study uses the daily data over the period from May 2005 to April ...2015. The estimated results exhibit following empirical regularities. First, it appears that technology stocks play vital role in the return and volatility spillovers of renewable energy stocks and crude oil prices. Second, technology (PSE) and clean energy indices (ECO) are the dominant emitters of return and volatility spillovers to the crude oil (WTI) prices. Third, the time and event-dependent movements are well captured by the directional spillover approach. Fourth, the application of directional spillover method seems to be more advantageous than MGARCH models as it not only establishes the inter-variables return and volatility spillovers but also helps in identifying direction of spillover through calculation of pairwise net spillovers. Last, the dynamic hedging results suggest that clean energy index can provide a profitable hedging opportunity in combination with crude oil futures than technology index. Many new findings further discussed and analysed.
Based on the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) framework, this study investigated the antecedents of green online purchase intention by focusing on the impact of electronic service quality (i.e., firm ...characteristics) and customer green psychology—green word-of-mouth (WOM), green trust, greenwashing, consumer social responsibility, green perceived value, and green involvement (i.e., customer characteristics). Non-probability samples of 1002 respondents from different Chinese provinces were collected via a questionnaire and the data were analyzed using smart partial least squares (SmartPLS). Results show that e-service quality, consumer social responsibility, green trust, and green perceived value have significant positive impacts, while greenwashing has a negative influence on green purchase intention. Moreover, consumer social responsibility, green WOM, green trust, and green perceived value positively moderated the relationship between e-service quality and green purchase intention, while greenwashing and green involvement negatively moderated these relationships. The findings can enhance the understanding of Chinese customers’ green purchasing behaviors from both firm characteristics (i.e., e-service quality) and customer characteristics (i.e., green psychological variables) and provide guidelines to firms to promote their green products without indulging in greenwashing.
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•Propose a stimulus-organism-response framework for studying green purchase intention from both firm and customer attributes.•E-service quality, CnSR, and green trust have positive impacts on GPI while greenwashing has negative impact.•CnSR, green WOM, and green trust (vs. greenwashing) play positive (vs. negative) moderating role.•The findings can enhance the understanding of Chinese customers’ green purchasing behaviors.•The study can provide guidelines to firms to promote their green products without indulging in greenwashing.
This article proposes an approach to estimate performance baseline of file system operations for selection of optimal file system and precise optimization of file system operations for Linux-based ...edge devices in Industry 4.0. To demonstrate this approach, we discuss the design and implementation of an ideal-but-hypothetical file system, namely, ufs . We evaluate the performance of ufs to set the optimal lower bound on the cost of file system operations. We then evaluate and compare the performance of Linux extended file systems with the estimated baseline set by ufs to identify the file system that closely approximates ufs . Our findings suggest that graceful aging, warm caches, and readahead significantly help extended file systems approximate the estimated baseline while ext4 file system closely approximates baseline performance even during aging.
Eugenol (EUG) is one of the most important components available in several spices, including clove, bay leaves, and nutmeg. These spices are used as flavouring agents in foods and beverages. The aim ...of the present study is to develop and validate a rapid, simple, sensitive, and robust ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) technique for the quantitative estimation of EUG in the ultrasound-assisted methanolic extracts of three spices, namely Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry (SA), Cinnamomum tamala (Buch.-Ham.) T.Nees & Eberm (CT), and Myristica fragrance Houtt. (MF). EUG was isocratically separated on a UPLC C18 column. The acetonitrile:methanol:water (50:40:10, v/v/v) solvent in different proportions was optimized as the mobile phase for the determination of EUG in ultrasound-assisted methanolic extracts of three different spices. The quantitative estimation of EUG was performed at a 281 nm detection wavelength. The column oven temperature was maintained at 35 ± 5 °C, and the flow rate of the mobile phase was 0.2 mL/min using an injection volume of 1 µL. The UPLC technique was validated according to the ICH guidelines and showed an excellent linearity range of 10–100 ng/mL. The robustness of the method was validated using Box–Behenken response surface design (BBD) software, and a 0.2 mL/min flow rate of the mobile phase, a column oven temperature of 308 K, and a 281 nm detection wavelength were found to be the best optimal conditions for obtaining the highest amount and separation of EUG. The content of EUG in ultrasound-assisted methanolic extracts of SA, CT, and MF using the UPLC technique showed 313.67 ± 0.87 mg g−1, 44.95 ± 0.56 mg g−1, and 59.66 ± 0.41 mg g−1, respectively. The antioxidant potentials of EUG, SA, CT, and MF were analysed using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-pcrylhydrazil radical) method, which revealed the antioxidant potential of EUG (IC50 = 3.12 µg/mL), standard ascorbic acid (IC50 = 7.06 µg/mL), SA ultrasound-assisted methanolic extract (IC50 = 5.97 µg/mL), CT ultrasound-assisted methanolic extract (IC50 = 49.48 µg/mL), and MF ultrasound-assisted methanolic extract (IC50 = 65.16 µg/mL). The proposed UPLC technique can be used to quantitatively assess various spices, plants, pharmaceutical products, and polyherbal formulations containing EUG as an active constituent.
The voluminous nature of big data and technological limitations of storage technology employed in data centers has led to a gap between storage demand and supply. This article investigates multiple ...factors that lead to data-capacity gap in big data storage such as technological limitations of magnetic storage technology and shortcomings of data-reduction techniques. Furthermore, the article discusses the recent advances in emerging storage technologies to assess their potential in avoiding the gap.
To maintain the wellbeing of the human gut, the role of its microflora and their metabolites is fundamental. Probiotics is a Greek term, which is used to define non-living microbes that are ...beneficial in nature and exert numerous advantages on the host body. The intestinal microflora’s function and activity may also be improved by administering some of the prebiotics (indigestible dietary fibers) independently or in a c combination with probiotics. The term “Synbiotics” is used to denote the combination of both prebiotics and probiotics. It should always be noted that numerous disorders are being associated with the abnormal function of microbiota/microflora that can be regulated and stabilized with the help of ingestion of probiotics, prebiotics or their combination. Multiple benefits are associated with the use of these probiotics, synbiotics and prebiotics including healthier digestive system, proper immune response of the gut and treatment of numerous GI tract disorders. All these issues are encountered because of treatments with new synthetic drugs that affect the digestive system as well as numerous organs in the body. Ulcerative colitis is a term that refers to chronic inflammation of the colon emerging as a result of improper immune response to intestinal microflora of the host. Researchers have studied the effects of synbiotics to treat this chronic condition1. As for the action mechanism of the synbiotics is concerned, it is assumed that they modulate the inflammatory response through expression of the cytokines, probiotic bacteria assisted modulation of the immune cells and prebiotics assisted production of certain short chain fatty acids. Jayanama and Theou studied the consequences of improper ingestion of probiotics and prebiotics in elderly patients. They revealed that physical inactivity, sarcopenia, and polypharmacy could be treated with the help of probiotics, prebiotics or a combination of both2. All the aforementioned disorders can lead to gut dysbiosis.
The researchers have also revealed that the gut microbiota homeostasis can be improved with the help of probiotics and prebiotics and they can be a helping hand in the prevention of aging and frailty. It is evident that left and right prescriptions of antibiotics and their use caused antibiotic resistance in the pathogens. This issue can be best resolved with the ingestion of probiotics and prebiotics. The systematic evidence to treat infected chronic wounds has been provided by Brognara et al3. Similarly, chronic wounds and burns treatment is done widely with the use of Lactobacillus plantarum. Some other researchers have reviewed the available data associated with the use of numerous prebiotics in the treatment of idiopathic constipation, and highly prevalent GIT disorrderrs4-6. This is due to the capability of prebiotics to improve the consistency of the stool, bloating and number of bowel movements. A limited data is available regarding the efficacy of prebiotics in the treatment of ulcerative colitis and pouchitis. It is concluded that probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics have been imparting a role in treating GIT disorders including indigestion, traveler’s diarrhea, IBD etc. Scientific reports have revealed their role in the treatment of cancerous disease, obesity, kidney and brain disorders. Many tools for the research of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics are now available; therefore, the future bio-therapeutics are going to be changed with the passage of time.
This paper presents forensic analysis of anti‐forensic file‐wiping tools on the Windows platform. The goal is to identify and extract the evidence of the tools used to wipe files and the files wiped ...by them on the Windows operating system. To achieve this goal, we analyzed the changes made by these tools to metadata structures of Windows file systems during file wiping. We also analyzed Registry keys and .lnk files to collect the evidence. Our experiments used four file‐wiping tools (SecureDelete v1.0, Secure Eraser v5.2, PC Shredder v1.1, and Blank and Secure v5.88) to wipe files on three Windows file systems (FAT32, exFAT and NTFS). The results suggest that FAT32 and exFAT file system directory structures and $MFT entries of NTFS file system can confirm the use of wiping tools, identify these tools and provide the remnants of the wiped files. Also, $LogFile and $UsnJrnl files of NTFS file system, and Windows Registry keys provide detailed evidence of wiping tools used and the files wiped by them. We also found that the contents of resident and non‐resident alternate data streams, $LogFile and $UsnJrnl files, and Windows Registry keys are not wiped by these tools. Finally, this study makes many recommendations, highlights the limitations of the work and points out the future scope.
In this research, an attempt has been made to develop mathematical models for predicting mechanical properties including ultimate tensile strength, impact toughness, and hardness of the friction ...stir-welded AA6061-T6 joints at 95 % confidence level. Response surface methodology with central composite design having four parameters and five levels has been used. The four parameters considered were tool pin profile, rotational speed, welding speed, and tool tilt angle. Three confirmation tests were performed to validate the empirical relations. In addition, the influence of the process parameters on ultimate tensile strength, impact toughness, and hardness were investigated. The results indicated that tool pin profile is the most significant parameter in terms of mechanical properties; tool with simple cylindrical pin profile produced weld with high ultimate tensile strength, impact toughness, and hardness. In addition to tool pin profile, rotational speed was more significant compared to welding speed for ultimate tensile strength and impact toughness, whereas welding speed showed dominancy over rotational speed in case of hardness. Optimum conditions of process parameters have been found at which tensile strength of 92 %, impact toughness of 87 %, and hardness of 95 % was achieved in comparison to the base metal. This research will contribute to expand the scientific foundation of friction stir welding of aluminum alloys with emphasis on AA6061-T6. The results will aid the practitioners to develop a clear understanding of the influence of process parameters on mechanical properties and will allow the selection of best combinations of parameters to achieve desired mechanical properties.
Polydactyly, also known as
or
is the most common hereditary limb anomaly characterized by extra fingers or toes, with various associated morphologic phenotypes as part of a syndrome (syndromic ...polydactyly) or may occur as a separate event (non-syndromic polydactyly). Broadly, the non-syndromic polydactyly has been classified into three types, i.e.; preaxial polydactyly (radial), central polydactyly (axial), and postaxial polydactyly (ulnar). Mostly inherited as an autosomal dominant entity with variable penetrance and caused by defects that occur in the anterior-posterior patterning of limb development. In humans, to-date at least 10 loci and six genes causing non-syndromic polydactyly have been identified, including the
,
,
,
,
, and the
. In the present review, clinical, genetic and molecular characterization of the polydactyly types has been presented including the recent genes and loci identified for non-syndromic polydactyly. This review provides an overview of the complex genetic mechanism underlie polydactyly and might help in genetic counseling and quick molecular diagnosis.
Autosomal Recessive Primary Microcephaly (MCPH) is a rare disorder of neurogenic mitosis characterized by reduced head circumference at birth with variable degree of mental retardation. In MCPH ...patients, brain size reduced to almost one-third of its original volume due to reduced number of generated cerebral cortical neurons during embryonic neurogensis. So far, seven genetic loci (MCPH1-7) for this condition have been mapped with seven corresponding genes (MCPH1, WDR62, CDK5RAP2, CEP152, ASPM, CENPJ, and STIL) identified from different world populations. Contribution of ASPM and WDR62 gene mutations in MCPH World wide is more than 50%. By and large, primary microcephaly patients are phenotypically indistinguishable, however, recent studies in patients with mutations in MCPH1, WDR62 and ASPM genes showed a broader clinical and/or cellular phenotype. It has been proposed that mutations in MCPH genes can cause the disease phenotype by disturbing: 1) orientation of mitotic spindles, 2) chromosome condensation mechanism during embryonic neurogenesis, 3) DNA damage-response signaling, 4) transcriptional regulations and microtubule dynamics, 5) certain unknown centrosomal mechanisms that control the number of neurons generated by neural precursor cells. Recent discoveries of mammalian models for MCPH have open up horizons for researchers to add more knowledge regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of MCPH. High incidence of MCPH in Pakistani population reflects the most probable involvement of consanguinity. Genetic counseling and clinical management through carrier detection/prenatal diagnosis in MCPH families can help reducing the incidence of this autosomal recessive disorder.
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