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Learning management system (LMS) used for delivering education has become one of the most important innovative tools. It is widely used and implemented by educational institutes and universities all over the world. This paper reports on a literature review focusing on behavioural intentions of the stakeholders to adopt learning Management Systems in a multinational context. The authors examined 35 publications on the subject from 2018 to 2021, making critical analysis of theories adopted in the study, the research approach, adoption factors, barriers, constructs used and research context. The primary focus is to shed light on these contradictive objectives unfolding in this context and identify research areas that need more attention in future LMS implementation research in the educational institutes.

Background and Aims: The application of ultrasound (USG)-guided interfascial plane blocks in transplant anesthesia is expanding. This study evaluates and compares the postoperative analgesic efficacy of USG-guided transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) and quadratus lumborum block (QLB) in adult individuals undergoing laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy (LLDN). Materials and Methods: A hundred donors of either sex, aged 30–60 years, scheduled to undergo LLDN were randomly allocated into two groups. After completion of the LLDN, USG-guided unilateral TAPB and QLB were performed in lateral position in Groups A (n = 48) and B (n = 48), respectively. A volume of 20 ml of 0.375% ropivacaine was administered in both groups. Postextubation donors were shifted to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). Heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and numeric rating scale (NRS) scores were recorded on arrival at PACU at the time of discharge from PACU. Subsequently, the donor was shifted to the intensive care unit, and the vitals and NRS scores (static and dynamic) were monitored postoperatively on the 2nd, 6th, 12th, 18th, and 24th h. Duration of analgesia and the number of donors who needed rescue analgesia were also noted. All the donors were observed for any side effects and complications. P

In the current era of internationalizing business activities and globalizating markets, technology has become an essential tool for enhancing market competitiveness. With globalization, a country's economic and business scenarios can change drastically. Many companies have seized on opportunities to pursue, and sometimes achieve economies of scale. Especially in some countries, however, the technological revolution creates significant challenges for small business entrepreneurs. Technological development plays a pivotal role in making small and medium enterprises (SMEs) competitive, as well as leading to sustainable growth. Under such circumstances, it is relevant to consider a country's technological environment for ways that can lead SMEs towards sustainable development. In the present study, we explore the impact of volatility in technological environments on the sustainability of SMEs in developing countries with emerging economies. We use the Global Competitive Index Report for the period 2012-2016, in which six parameters were applied to define the technological environment of developing nations. Two factors, namely, institutional capabilities and external capabilities emerged as significant factors according to factor analysis. We also studied the impact of emerging factors in new technological environments on the sustainability of SMEs in the specific time period using a regression analysis. The results indicate that both institutional capabilities and external capabilities become significant when time is taken as a selection variable. The highly significance of the time variable indicates the dynamism of today's technological environments. As well, institutional capabilities were found to have a strong impact on a business' sustainability, in comparison with external capabilities and the high level of technological volatility.

This paper using 68th round National Sample Survey of India data on Employment and Unemployment for 2011-2012 wants to investigate the incidence of poverty, acuteness of poverty and their determinants among the informal workers of India. It is shown that percentage of poverty has been lowest among the self-employed workers and highest among the informal workers in the formal sector in the rural area, while in the urban area the result is just the opposite. Although percentage of poverty-stricken workers has been higher in the rural area compared to that of the urban, acuteness of poverty has been the other way round. The determining factors of incidence of poverty and acuteness of poverty among the informal workers are general educational qualification, social groups, and sectors. These determining factors can be considered as important policy variables to reduce the incidence and acuteness of poverty among the informal workers of India.

This study was conducted to determine the optimal boiling time to reduce ptaquiloside (PTA) and to carry out a risk assessment for PTA, a representative toxic substance found in bracken fern (BF; Pteridium aquilinum), which is frequently consumed as food in East Asian countries. High-performance liquid chromatography showed that the concentration of PTA in BF was reduced by up to 99% after boiling for 20 min. Risk assessment results showed that the cancer margin of exposure (MOE; ≥ 25,000 = safe) to PTA for an average daily exposure scenario after boiling BF for 20 min was considered safe. In addition, the non-cancer MOE (≥ 300 = safe) to PTA under an average daily exposure scenario after BF boiling for 20 min was considered safe. However, human exposure to PTA was considered unsafe under the non-boiled BF exposure and maximum daily exposure scenarios. Therefore, boiling BF for at least 20 min is recommended before consumption, to reduce exposure to PTA as much as possible.

Background: Skin conditions have multiple causes. Natural phages in the Ganga River have bactericidal qualities against a number of bacterial infections, which help resolve skin conditions. Materials and Methods: We collected water from upper reaches of the Ganga River where the number of isolates of phages was more than 200 according to a study of the National Environmental Engineering Institute, Nagpur. The water was collected in May 2020 before the onset of monsoons and stored with sediments so that the phages adsorbed in the sediments cleaned up the overlaying column of water of all coliforms. We supplied the water by post to a number of volunteers who took the water through oral, topical or nasal route as per their convenience. Thirty-nine of the 52 volunteers provided data by telephone on their skin conditions on which this study is based. Results: The results show that an improvement of 1.7 on Likert Scale of 1-10 is obtained on skin conditions as per assessment of the volunteers after a treatment of 100 days. Further improvement of 1.0 on Likert Scale was reported after 85 days of stoppage of treatment. Conclusions: Natural phages of Ganga river could provide an inexpensive treatment not only for skin conditions but other comorbidities as well because skin conditions have multiple causes and phages of Ganga water may work at multiple levels.

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity has been involved in the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Tenovin-1, a potent selective SIRT1/2 inhibitor, regulates various target proteins. The present study evaluated the protective effect of Tenovin-1 against renal fibrosis in HFD-induced Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. Rats were fed a normal chow diet or HFD. Tenovin-1 (45 mg/kg) administered to HFD-fed rats decreased inflammatory cytokine expression in the serum of the rats. The antioxidant status and oxidative damage to lipids or DNA were significantly restored by Tenovin-1. Additionally, Tenovin-1 reduced the levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (sCr), microalbumin, and urinary protein-based biomarkers in the urine of HFD-fed rats. The abnormal architecture of the kidney and pancreas was restored by Tenovin-1 administration. Tenovin-1 also reduced apoptosis in the kidneys of the HFD-fed rats and HG-treated NRK-52E cells. It significantly lowered the levels of ECM proteins in the kidneys of HFD-fed rats and HG-treated NRK-52E cells. Additionally, Tenovin-1 markedly reduced claudin-1, SIRT1, and SIRT2, but increased SIRT3 and SIRT4 in HFD-fed rats and NRK-52E cells treated with HG. Furthermore, Tenovin-1 altered epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFR-β), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) levels in the kidneys of HFD-fed rats. Conclusively, this study shows that Tenovin-1 can be a potential candidate drug for the treatment of HFD-induced renal fibrosis, in vivo and in vitro models.

Molineria recurvata (MR) has been traditionally used to manage diabetes mellitus in India. However, the molecular mechanism of MR on the diabetic-induced nephropathy has not been clearly investigated. Thus, this study investigates the protective effects of the MR extract on nephropathy in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was instigated by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (45 mg/kg) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Once the diabetes was successfully induced, the MR extract (200 mg/kg/day) or metformin (200 mg/kg/day) was orally administered for 14 days. Renal function, morphology changes and levels of inflammatory cytokines were measured. Blood glucose concentrations were considerably reduced in STZ-induced diabetic rats following treatment with the MR extract. The administration of the MR extract substantially restored the abnormal quantity of the oxidative DNA damage marker 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxy-guanosine (8-OHdG), malondialdehyde, glutathione, oxidized glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). The urinary excretion of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), selenium binding protein 1 (SBP1), and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) was significantly reduced in diabetes rats after administration of the MR extracts. In the kidneys of STZ-induced diabetic rats, the MR extracts markedly downregulated the expression of fibronectin, collagen-1, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). In particular, the MR extracts markedly increased the level of SIRT1 and SIRT3 and reduced claudin-1 in the kidney. These results suggest that the MR extracts exhibits therapeutic activity in contrast to renal injury in STZ-induced diabetic rats through repressing inflammation and oxidative stress.

The objective of the present work was to assess the ameliorative potential of two novel edible diacylglycerol oil-formulations comprising caprylic acid, C8:0 or capric acid, C10:0 in treating CdCl2 induced in vivo hypertension at molecular level.Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (1) control; (2) DAG oil-treated group (2 gm/day DAG oil); (3) hypertensive group (1.0 mg/kg of CdCl2 for 2 weeks, i. p); and (4) hypertensive/DAG oil-treated group (2 gm/day DAG oil) (14 days). Hematological, biochemical and molecular parametric tools were performed to evaluate the protective efficacy of DAG oils against CdCl2-induced hypertension. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) measured non-invasively using BIOPAC-MP36 system (BIOPAC System Inc., USA). It was found that the pretreatment of DAG oil provided a significant improvement in renal antioxidant status, reduced the lipid peroxidation and the levels of inflammatory markers that were aggravated due to induced CdCl2-toxicity. Further, results of protein expression showed that DAG oil pretreatment normalized the renal expression of Nrf2/Keap1 and its downstream regulatory proteins in CdCl2-treated rat kidney. DAG oils also effectively attenuated CdCl2-induced renal apoptosis by the up-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2 and down-regulation of Bax, caspase-3, caspase-9 and Cytochrome c. Histological and immunohistochemical observations provided further evidence that the DAG oils effectively protected the kidney from CdCl2-mediated oxidative damage. The results suggest that DAG oils ameliorated CdCl2-induced oxidative renal injury by activating the Nrf2/Mn-SOD pathway and inhibiting the ROS/NF-κB pathway. Evidences have revealed that Cy-DAG exhibited better efficacy than the Cp-DAG against induced hypertensive conditions.

Objective: The purpose of the study is to investigate potential of antioxidant property of ethanolic root extract of Asparagus racemosus Linn (EEAR). Methods: In vitro evaluation antioxidant property of EEAR was done using various methods like DPPH scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and nitric oxide scavenging activity. HPTLC fingerprint analysis was performed for qualitative determination of possible number of components from the ethanolic extract. Acute toxicity study was performed in Wistar rat and an OECD guideline 423 was followed. Results: The yield value was found 0.96% from EEAR. A concentration of 468.57 ± 3.002 μg/ml of probable antioxidant material from EEAR was required to scavenge 50% of DPPH. The IC50 value of EEAR were found to be 508.17 ± 7.37 μg and 416.57 ± 5.08 μg when determined by hydroxyl radical and nitric oxide scavenging assay respectively. The reducing powers of EEAR was 0.295 ± 0.0037 at 125 μg/ml and increased to 0.934 ± 0.0005 at 500 μg/ml. HPTLC fingerprint data supports several basic informations like isolation, purification, quality evaluation and standardization. No sign of toxicity was observed after treated with 2000 mg/kg of EEAR. Conclusion: The obtained data highlight the potential role of EEAR as a source of natural antioxidants.

Renal cell carcinoma has emerged as one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the USA. Here, we examined the anticancer profile of oxindole derivatives (SH-859) in human renal cancer cells. Targeting 786-O cells by SH-859 inhibited cell growth and affected the protein kinase B/mechanistic target of rapamycin 1 pathway, which in turn downregulated the expression of glycolytic enzymes, including lactate dehydrogenase A and glucose transporter-1, as well as other signaling proteins. Treatment with SH-859 altered glycolysis, mitochondrial function, and levels of adenosine triphosphate and cellular metabolites. Flow cytometry revealed the induction of apoptosis and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in renal cancer cells following SH-859 treatment. Induction of autophagy was also confirmed after SH-859 treatment by acridine orange and monodansylcadaverine staining, immunocytochemistry, and Western blot analyses. Finally, SH-859 also inhibited the tumor development in a xenograft model. Thus, SH-859 can serve as a potential molecule for the treatment of human renal carcinoma.

Sirtuin (SIRT) is known to prevent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, the role of SIRT4 in the progression of hepatic fibrosis remains unknown. We hypothesize that EX-527, a selective SIRT1 inhibitor, can inhibit the progression of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic fibrosis. We found that SIRT4 expression in the liver of NAFLD patients is significantly lower than that in normal subjects. In this study, EX-527 (5 µg/kg), administered to HFD rats twice a week for ten weeks, reduced the serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and attenuated hepatic fibrosis evidenced by Masson’s trichrome and hepatic fat by oil red-O staining. EX-527 upregulated SIRT2, SIRT3, and SIRT4 expression in the liver of HFD fed rats but downregulated transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression. It decreased proinflammatory cytokine production and hydroxyproline levels in the serum and SMAD4 expression and restored apoptotic protein (Bcl-2, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3) expression. These data propose a critical role for the SIRT4/SMAD4 axis in hepatic fibrogenesis. SIRT4 upregulation has the potential to counter HFD-induced lipid accumulation, inflammation, and fibrogenesis. We demonstrate that EX-527 is a promising candidate in inhibiting the progression of HFD-induced liver fibrosis.

The aquatic extract of Dendropanax morbifera (DP) is typically consumed as a beverage in Korea and China and is also used in various traditional medicines. However, the functional role of DP on diabetes-induced renal fibrosis is unclear. Here, the protective effects of DP extract against diabetes-induced renal fibrosis were evaluated. Streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally in rats to induce diabetes. After 5 days, DP extract (25 mg/kg/day) and metformin (50 mg/kg/day) were administered orally to diabetic rats for 28 days. DP administration protected both body and organ weight loss in STZ-treated diabetic rats. Significant improvements in serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and oxidative stress parameters were observed in diabetic rats by DP administration. DP extract markedly protected diabetic-induced histopathological damages in the kidney and pancreas. A significant reduction was observed in microalbumin, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), selenium binding protein-1 (SBP1), and pyruvate kinase muscle isozyme M2 (PKM2) levels in the urinary excretion of diabetic rats after the administration of DP extract. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and fibrosis marker levels were significantly reduced in the kidney of diabetic rats. Our results strongly indicate that DP extract exhibits protective activity against diabetes-induced renal fibrosis through ameliorating oxidative stress and inflammation. Therefore, we suggest that DP extract can be used as a preventive agent on the progression of diabetic nephropathy and renal fibrosis.

Emerging evidence indicates that the activity of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) isoform is crucial for the survival of tumor cells. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the function of PKM2 in renal cancer is undetermined. Here, we reveal the overexpression of PKM2 in the proximal tubule of renal tumor tissues from 70 cases of patients with renal carcinoma. The functional role of PKM2 in human renal cancer cells following small-interfering RNA-mediated PKM2 knockdown, which retarded 786-O cell growth was examined. Targeting PKM2 affected the protein kinase B (AKT)/mechanistic target of the rapamycin 1 (mTOR) pathway, and downregulated the expression of glycolytic enzymes, including lactate dehydrogenase A and glucose transporter-1, and other downstream signaling key proteins. PKM2 knockdown changed glycolytic metabolism, mitochondrial function, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level, and intracellular metabolite formation and significantly reduced 786-O cell migration and invasion. Acridine orange and monodansylcadaverine staining, immunocytochemistry, and immunoblotting analyses revealed the induction of autophagy in renal cancer cells following PKM2 knockdown. This is the first study to indicate PKM2/AKT/mTOR as an important regulatory axis mediating the changes in the metabolism of renal cancer cells.

Environmental and health safety of recycled slaughterhouse wastes-derived fertilizer and the produce obtained through its application is not well understood. Waste bovine blood and rumen digesta were mixed, cooked and sun-dried to obtain bovine-blood-and-rumen-digesta-mixture (BBRDM, NPK 30.36:1:5.75). 1.26 ± 0.18 log CFU mL−1 fecal coliforms were recovered in BBRDM. E. coli O157:H7, Mycobacteria, Clostridium sp., Salmonella sp., Bacillus sp. and Brucella sp. were absent. No re-growth of pathogens was observed after 60 days storage in sealed bags and in the open. However, prions and viruses were not evaluated. Heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Cd, Cu, Zn, As, Ni, Mn) concentrations in BBRDM were within internationally permissible limits. BBRDM was applied for field cultivation of tomato during 2012–2013 and 2013–2014. Lycopene and nitrate contents of BBRDM-grown tomatoes were higher than Diammonium phosphate (DAP) + potash-grown tomatoes because BBRDM supplied 2.5 times more the amount of nitrogen than DAP (NPK 18:46:0) + potash (NPK 0:0:44). Heavy metals and nitrate/nitrite concentrations in tomatoes were within internationally acceptable limits. BBRDM-grown tomatoes showed no mutagenic activity in the Ames test. Sub-acute toxicity tests on Wistar rats fed with BBRDM-grown tomatoes did not show adverse clinical picture. Thus, no immediate environmental or health risks associated with BBRDM and the tomatoes produced were identified.

Introduction: The development of newer synthetic approaches toward the synthesis of polynuclear heteroaromatics and their application in the synthesis of some biologically active compounds has been discussed in this study. Materials and Methods: The synthesis of novel spiro pyrrolidino oxindoles was performed for the construction of amino acid linked polynuclear heteroaromatics by cycloaddition reaction. This reaction method is one of the most important methods for the construction of spiro pyrrolidino oxindole from the commercially available starting material isatin. Then the synthesized compounds were subjected for evaluation of nitric oxide scavenging and cytotoxic effects against tumor cell lines. Results: All the six synthesized compounds demonstrated promising antioxidant and cytotoxic effects in vitro. Conclusion: Form the present study, it can be concluded that the synthesized compounds are fruitful in terms of their chemical purity, structural novelty, marked biological activities (antioxidant and cytotoxic) in vitro and last of all the lucid and picturesque synthetic methodology to synthesize the molecules in a in a non-hazardous and environmental friendly way.

Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) is a government-sponsored microfinance program. The scheme is based on four features: group lending with joint liability, progressive lending, back-ended subsidy, and social capital. We propose a new model of SGSY having these features: group lending with individual liability, progressive lending, back-ended subsidy, and social capital. “Joint liability” clause of the existing model is replaced with individual liability in the new model. The paper shows that problem of adverse selection is removed in both models, i.e. in “SGSY with group lending and joint liability” and “SGSY with group lending and individual liability.” The problem of “moral hazard” is more severe in the existing model of SGSY compared with the proposed model of SGSY. Borrowers are also benefitted from participation in the proposed scheme of SGSY than that in the existing model of SGSY.