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This study assesses the impact of different psychological and contextual factors on entrepreneurial motivations and the role of entrepreneurial motivations in determining the entrepreneurial intention of students at Indian universities. The paper also explores whether gender acts as a moderator in the entrepreneurial motivation-intention relationship. Cross-sectional data were collected by administering a questionnaire to 329 students who had received entrepreneurship education during their course program. A confirmatory factor analysis model was run to ensure the model's fitness, reliability, and validity, while structural equation modelling was used to test the hypotheses. The study validates the following key findings. First, the psychological factors of perceived cultural support and entrepreneurship education foster entrepreneurial motivations, which help determine students' entrepreneurial intention, whereas fear of failure negatively affects students' entrepreneurial motivations. Second, the contextual factors of government support policies and access to entrepreneurial finance do not influence entrepreneurial motivations. Third, entrepreneurial motivations significantly enhance the entrepreneurial intention of students. Fourth, gender negatively moderates the entrepreneurial motivation-intention relationship. The study contributes to the literature on the entrepreneurial motivation-intention relationship using psychological and contextual factors and also explores the interaction effect of gender on that relationship.

This paper examines the direct and indirect roles of individual entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurship education in determining students' entrepreneurial intention through the mediation of entrepreneurial motivations. The study also attempts to ascertain the influence of entrepreneurship education on individual entrepreneurial orientation. Cross-sectional data were collected from 323 university students using the convenience sampling method. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the model fitness and the reliability and validity of the data while hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. The findings affirm that entrepreneurship education facilitates both individual entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial motivations and also has a positive association with entrepreneurial intention. More importantly, entrepreneurial motivations significantly mediate individual 'entrepreneurial orientation--entrepreneurial intention' and 'entrepreneurship education--entrepreneurial intention' relationships. The findings provide practical support for the framing of new educational policies to assist students in their existing and future entrepreneurial projects. The study contributes to the literature by recognizing the mediating effect of entrepreneurial motivations on the above relationships. It also adds to the scarce literature on the lately recognized individual entrepreneurial orientation construct.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of opportunity recognition and entrepreneurial self-efficacy on the entrepreneurial intention of Indian university students. This paper also examines the moderating role of entrepreneurship education and gender on the opportunity recognition-intention and self-efficacy--intention relationships. Design/methodology/approach: The data were collected through a comprehensive questionnaire from 334 students having business and management background. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to ensure the reliability and validity of all the constructs, and structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings: This study unveils three important findings. First, opportunity recognition and self-efficacy both show a significant positive impact on the entrepreneurial intention of students. Second, education positively moderates "self-efficacy--intention relationship", and third, gender negatively moderates "opportunity recognition-intention" and "self-efficacy--intention" relationships. Research limitations/implications: This study has been carried out using a sample of students from only one university, and the study included only business and management background students. Similar studies can be conducted by adding more motivational and contextual factors with an increased sample size of students having different educational backgrounds. Practical implications: This study provides pragmatic support to formulate new educational initiatives that can support students in their present or future entrepreneurial projects. Originality/value: This study adds to the scarce literature on opportunity recognition and entrepreneurial intention and also highlights the moderating role of entrepreneurship education and gender on opportunity recognition-intention and entrepreneurial self-efficacy--intention relationships.

Double-skin tubular columns (DSTCs) represent one of the most novel column systems for future structures, such as bridges, flyovers, high-rise buildings, and towers, due to their higher axial compressive strength and improved ductility characteristics. The enhanced confinement of the concrete is the primary reason for the improved axial compressive strength and superior ductility in DSTCs. However, the steel in DSTCs is localized to the outer and inner layers only, without any connecting element in-between inner and outer steel tubes. As a result, a significant sudden drop in the load-carrying capacity has been observed in DSTCs as soon as the outer or inner steel tube fails. However, the failure in inner and outer steel tubes can be significantly delayed or prevented if they are connected through stiffeners. The present study, through an extensive experimental investigation, focused on effectively strengthening and connecting both the outer and inner tubes in DSTCs by adopting various stiffener schemes. Additionally, the stiffeners split the concrete core into discrete concrete cells. Accordingly, in the current study, these columns have been referred to as multicell double-skin tubular columns (MC-DSTCs). From the experimental observations, axial compressive strengths in MC-DSTCs were higher than that in the unstiffened DSTCs by up to 62%. Further, MC-DSTCs exhibited larger axial deformations compared with the unstiffened DSTCs, improving their ductility index by up to 253%. The increased axial strengths and ductility in MC-DSTCs have been attributed to delayed and controlled failure of steel and concrete components because of the improved participation of inner and outer tubes through stiffener connections. Finally, a design model has been proposed based on the concept of concrete confinement in MC-DSTCs to accurately predict their axial compressive strength, which has been verified through a regression analysis. A good correlation (with R2=0.986) between the predicted and experimental axial compressive strengths of MC-DSTC was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green concrete utilizes industrial waste resources as fine and coarse aggregates, to partially replace cement in concrete using supplemental cementitious materials. The primary goal of the present study was to explore the acid durability of green concretes with different compressive strengths of 30 and 40 MPa. In green concrete, fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) were adopted as SCMs, and quarry dust (QD) and recycled coarse aggregates (RCA) were adopted as replacements for fine and coarse aggregates, respectively. The acid durability assessment was carried out by immersing concrete cubes in H2SO4 and HCl solutions followed by residual compressive strength comparison. For comparative study purposes, the same grades of ordinary concrete were prepared, tested, and subjected to similar acid exposure. The microstructural investigation was also accomplished by employing field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) analysis and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). It was found that concrete with 30% GGBS and 20% fly ash and the remaining 50% ordinary portland cement as cementitious materials along with 40% QD and 30% RCA as aggregate replacements gives adequate compressive strength and performs better in aggressive environments as compared to traditional concrete. These mixes were found to have denser microstructures with silica-rich, calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GOOD SOIL can raise the quantity and quality of food. However, the land quality has worsened due to various anthropogenic activities. The present study aimed to assess the effects of land use systems on soil quality over time through specific indicators. A top 30 cm soil sample from six land uses (forest, pasture, orchard, vegetable, maize, and paddy) was analyzed for soil quality index using Principal Component Analysis. The results revealed the highest organic carbon (20.94±1.85 g kg-1), N (537.50±16.7 kg ha-1), and P2O5 (36.51±1.62 kg ha-1) in paddy-based land uses while the minimum OC (8.63±1.23 g kg-1), N (290.30±1.8 kg ha-1) and K2O (201.36±6.2 kg ha-1) respectively with lowest P2O5 (24.22±1.21 kg ha-1) in maize. The forest system showed dense macrofauna (1498 ind. m-2). The microbial population was found in the order of paddy>maize>vegetable>apple>pasture>forest. Particle size distribution of studied land uses varied from silty loam to clay loam. The following order of soil quality: forest>pasture>apple >vegetable>maize>paddy was found after the indexing procedure. It is concluded that further extension and turning of natural forests to agriculture will lead to a more significant loss of stored carbon from soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Nephropathic cystinosis is a rarely occurring inherited metabolic disorder, leading to Fanconi syndrome, progressive renal failure and a range of extra-renal manifestations including endocrinopathies. There is no definitive cure for Cystinosis. Never the less, early introduction of cysteamine treatment and other supportive measures can adequately retard the occurrence of complications and improve prognosis. CASE DESCRIPTION: An 18-year-old boy who presented with complaints of abdominal pain, vomiting, polyuria and episodes of periodic paralysis for the last 01 year to the Endocrine Unit, Medical Teaching Institution Hayatabad Medical Complex, and Peshawar, Pakistan. He was lean and wasted with a BMI of 12.9kg/m2 (weight=32.59kg, height=159cm) having frontal bossing and splaying of bones at wrist joint with normal to low blood pressure. Investigations revealed hypokalemia, alkaline urine and metabolic acidosis on arterial blood gas analysis. Consequently, his symptoms were attributed to underlying renal tubular acidosis. Later, slit lamp examination revealed Cysteine crystals in the cornea confirming the diagnosis of Cystinosis as the underlying cause. He was started on supportive therapy including potassium chloride and citrate supplements, intravenous fluids, calcium and vitamin D supplements and Indomethacin. Senior nephrologist and Nutritionist were also taken on board regarding his management. Follow up at 02 months was suggestive of marked symptomatic and biochemical improvement. CONCLUSION: Data regarding the definitive cure for Cystinosis is scarce. Never the less, early introduction of cysteamine therapy and other supportive measures can adequately retard the occurrence of complications and improvise prognosis.

This study aims to examine the impact of students' entrepreneurial self-efficacy on their opportunity recognition capability after their exposure to classroom-based entrepreneurship education, leading to the development of intention to undertake an entrepreneurial activity. A detailed questionnaire was used to collect data from 351 students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Results confirm that the student's entrepreneurial self-efficacy positively influences their intention to undertake an entrepreneurial activity directly and indirectly via their opportunity recognition capability. Also, entrepreneurship education significantly moderates the link between students' entrepreneurial self-efficacy and opportunity recognition capability. These results have practical implications for universities and policymakers, as universities that are not providing entrepreneurship education can adopt the same module of classroom education. Also, policymakers can frame policies directing institutions to start similar kinds of entrepreneurship education programs, even at the intermediate level, particularly in lower-middle-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Serum bilirubin has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunological properties. It is considered a protective substance against atherosclerotic and microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). This study was designed to find the association between total serum bilirubin concentration and diabetic retinopathy (DR)., Methods: This case control study was conducted in the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. Type-2 DM patients more than 18 years of age of either gender with duration of T2DM more than 6 months were included and sub categorized in two groups. Cases (DM with DR) and Controls (DM without DR) while patients with acute and chronic liver diseases, haemolytic anaemia, history of chronic alcohol consumption, use of hepatotoxic drugs (anti-tuberculous, anti-epileptic), women on oral contraceptive pills were excluded. All participants underwent ophthalmic examination at diabetic retinopathy screening clinic followed by pre designed set of investigations., Results: A total of 152 patients, 76 cases and 76 controls were included. Serum bilirubin concentration was found inversely and independently (p 0.000) associated and inversely co related (r -0.345and p 0.000) with prevalence of DR. Cases were concentrated in the lower quartiles of serum bilirubin concentration and vice versa. Low haemoglobin (p 0.00) and longer duration of DM (0.003) were independently and directly associated with prevalence of DR., Conclusions: Serum bilirubin concentration is inversely and independently associated and inversely correlated with the prevalence of DR and may predict progression of DR over time.