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Background: B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling is a central driver in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), along with the activation of pro-survival pathways (e.g., NF-κB) and aberrant anti-apoptotic mechanisms (e.g., BCL2) culminating to CLL cell survival and drug resistance. Front-line targeted therapies such as ibrutinib (BTK inhibitor) and venetoclax (BCL2 inhibitor) have radically improved CLL management. Yet, persisting CLL cells lead to relapse in ~20% of patients, signifying the unmet need of inhibitor-resistant refractory CLL. SpiD3 is a novel spirocyclic dimer of analog 19 that displays NF-κB inhibitory activity and preclinical anti-cancer properties. Recently, we have shown that SpiD3 inhibits CLL cell proliferation and induces cytotoxicity by promoting futile activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in the inhibition of protein synthesis in CLL cells. Methods: We performed RNA-sequencing using CLL cells rendered resistant to ibrutinib and venetoclax to explore potential vulnerabilities in inhibitor-resistant and SpiD3-treated CLL cells. Results: The transcriptomic analysis of ibrutinib- or venetoclax-resistant CLL cell lines revealed ferroptosis, UPR signaling, and oxidative stress to be among the top pathways modulated by SpiD3 treatment. By examining SpiD3-induced protein aggregation, ROS production, and ferroptosis in inhibitor-resistant CLL cells, our findings demonstrate cytotoxicity following SpiD3 treatment in cell lines resistant to current front-line CLL therapeutics. Conclusions: Our results substantiate the development of SpiD3 as a novel therapeutic agent for relapsed/refractory CLL disease.

This multicenter study aimed to explore whether baseline total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels could predict omalizumab response in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) patients. Refractory CSU patients, treated with omalizumab after failing second-generation H1-antihistamines, were analyzed retrospectively across seven centers in Brazil. The study assessed total IgE levels at baseline, comparing responders to non-responders and considering complete and partial responses. The results showed a significant reduction in CSU symptoms post-treatment. Non-responders had lower baseline IgE levels. A sensitivity of 67.8% and specificity of 93.3% for predicting a response were found at an IgE level of 59.5 IU/ml. Similar values were observed for complete responders. Notably, a baseline IgE level lower than 59.5 IU/ml may indicate late responders. The study underscores the potential of baseline IgE levels as a predictive biomarker for omalizumab response in CSU patients. Further research, incorporating diverse populations and analyzing response variables, is warranted to validate these findings.

Friction stir spot welding (FSSW) is a prominent solid-state adhesion process. In the recent past, several investigations are performed for the property enhancement of FSSW welded joints especially on the mechanical and metallurgical characterization. In this work, an attempt has been made to analyze the effect of environmental conditions on the output quality characteristics of SiC reinforced Al6061-T6 welded joints, fabricated at optimal parametric setting. For this, welded joints are preserved at sub-zero temperature of −18 ± 2 °C for 90, 180, 270 and 360 days. Output quality characteristics in terms of tensile-shear and micro-hardness test in combination with microstructure analyses using SEM, EDS Mapping, and XRD analysis are emphasized. It is revealed that during sub-zero cooling, weld strength and micro-hardness of weldments increased over time. Additionally, a decrease in crystal size and increase in dislocation density are observed with increase in cooling period of weld joint, which eventually made suitable for extreme applications.

Background: Targeted therapies (e.g., ibrutinib) have markedly improved chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) management; however, ~20% of patients experience disease relapse, suggesting the inadequate depth and durability of these front-line strategies. Moreover, immunotherapeutic success in CLL has been stifled by its pro-tumor microenvironment milieu and low mutational burden, cultivating poor antigenicity and limited ability to generate anti-tumor immunity through adaptive immune cell engagement. Previously, we have demonstrated how a three-carbon-linker spirocyclic dimer (SpiD3) promotes futile activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) in CLL cells through immense misfolded-protein mimicry, culminating in insurmountable ER stress and programmed CLL cell death. Method: Herein, we used flow cytometry and cell-based assays to capture the kinetics and magnitude of SpiD3-induced damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) in CLL cell lines and primary samples. Result: SpiD3 treatment, in vitro and in vivo, demonstrated the capacity to propagate immunogenic cell death through emissions of classically immunogenic DAMPs (CALR, ATP, HMGB1) and establish a chemotactic gradient for bone marrow-derived dendritic cells. Conclusions: Thus, this study supports future investigation into the relationship between novel therapeutics, manners of cancer cell death, and their contributions to adaptive immune cell engagement as a means for improving anti-cancer therapy in CLL.

In this study, an attempt has been made to evaluate the best management practices (BMPs) in a poorly degraded and economically fragile watershed area in Shivalik hills, Northern India. A scenario-based approach was followed to evaluate the existing BMPs and a few hypothetically implemented BMPs based on SWAT modeling. A regionalization approach was adopted for calibrating the SWAT model for ungauged micro-watersheds within the study area. After successful calibration, soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model was simulated for several BMPs that are in practice such as Check dams, vegetation and fencing so as to learn about their effectiveness in controlling sediment and nutrient yield. Other hypothetically installed BMPs, such as contouring, terracing, grassed waterways and filter strips were also evaluated in untreated micro and sub-watersheds. The cost–benefit analysis of these hypothetical BMPs revealed that the average reduction in nutrients was maximum for grassed waterways and minimum for terracing. Overall, the scenario-based analysis revealed that conservation practices, in the otherwise degraded watershed, can prove to be beneficial for sustainability of its natural resources. HIGHLIGHTS SWAT model calibration for gauged and ungauged microwatershed using regionalization technique.; Evaluating the effectiveness of in-place best management practices in controlling sediment yield and a few nutrient parameters causing nonpoint pollution during rainfall season.; Cost–benefit analysis of the hypothetically designed and implemented best management practices in conserving nutrient loss using SWAT simulations.;

Natural fibre composites have emerged as a viable alternative to conventional polymer composites, after environmental concerns gain popularity. In recent years, a tremendous growth in the applications of natural fibre composites have been observed, particularly in the field of construction, as well as aerospace and automotive industries. The present study investigates the feasibility of developing a novel tribo-material by reinforcing biopolymer with easily accessible and inexpensive plant fibres from the surroundings. The fibres were treated chemically prior to fabrication. The injection molding process was used to fabricate laminated composites by incorporating three different kinds of fibres (sisal, banana, and bagasse) into Poly-lactic acid (PLA) matrix at 10% and 20% fibre concentrations. Wear properties of fabricated composites were studied on a digital display controlled pin-on-disc test rig. The test parameters under dry sliding conditions were sliding distance (1000–3000 m), sliding speed (2,4 and 6 m/s) and applied load (10 N). The experimental results depict that the incorporation of natural fibres improved tribological properties of neat PLA matrix. The worn surfaces of developed composites were examined using a scanning electron microscope to study the wear mechanism.

Abstract Millions of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur annually. TBIs commonly result from falls, traffic accidents, and sports-related injuries, all of which involve rotational acceleration/deceleration of the brain. During these injuries, the brain endures a multitude of primary insults including compression of brain tissue, damaged vasculature, and diffuse axonal injury. All of these deleterious effects can contribute to secondary brain ischemia, cellular death, and neuroinflammation that progress for weeks, months, and lifetime after injury. While the linear effects of head trauma have been extensively modeled, less is known about how rotational injuries mediate neuronal damage following injury. Here, we developed a new model of repetitive rotational head trauma in rodents and demonstrated acute and prolonged pathological, behavioral, and electrophysiological effects of rotational TBI (rTBI). We identify aberrant Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) activity as a principal mediator of rTBI. We utilized Cdk5-enriched phosphoproteomics to uncover potential downstream mediators of rTBI and show pharmacological inhibition of Cdk5 reduces the cognitive and pathological consequences of injury. These studies contribute meaningfully to our understanding of the mechanisms of rTBI and how they may be effectively treated.

Abstract Background Several complications have been reported in COVID-19 infection. Most of the complications include secondary infection. Case presentation We report an 85-year-old male who presented with cauda equina syndrome 7-months after contracting COVID-19 infection. We excised an extradural mass which on examination proved to be Spinal Aspergillosis. Conclusions Spinal Aspergillosis should be kept in mind in patients who present with local spinal pain with or without neurological deficit after COVID-19 infection.

Despite advances in research and improved neurological intensive care in recent years, the clinical outcome of severely head injured patients is still poor. Primary insult is followed by a complex cascade of molecular and biochemical events that lead to neuroinflammation, brain edema, and delayed neuronal death. No specific pharmacological therapy is currently available which prevents the development of secondary brain injuries, and most therapeutic strategies have failed in translation from bench to bedside. There are limitations of clinical and radiological methods in delineating the exact severity and prognosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI). A myriad complex biochemical markers are under investigation to delineate the extent of brain tissue damage and to independently predict the outcome, but a search for simple biomarker still eludes the research. Progesterone, a gonadal hormone and a neurosteroid, although controversial as a neuroprotective agent, may hold promise as a simple biochemical marker of the outcome in severe TBI.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is a crucial regulator of neuronal signal transduction. Cdk5 activity is implicated in various neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions such as stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. While constitutive Cdk5 knockout is perinatally lethal, conditional knockout mice display resilience to stress-induction, enhanced cognition, neuroprotection from stroke and head trauma, and ameliorated neurodegeneration. Thus, Cdk5 represents a prime target for treatment in a spectrum of neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions. While intracranial infusions or treatment of acutely dissected brain tissue with compounds that inhibit Cdk5 have allowed the study of kinase function and corroborated conditional knockout findings, potent brain-penetrant systemically deliverable Cdk5 inhibitors are extremely limited, and no Cdk5 inhibitor has been approved to treat any neuropsychiatric or degenerative diseases to date. Here, we screened aminopyrazole-based analogs as potential Cdk5 inhibitors and identified a novel analog, 25–106, as a uniquely brain-penetrant anti-Cdk5 drug. We characterize the pharmacokinetic and dynamic responses of 25–106 in mice and functionally validate the effects of Cdk5 inhibition on open field and tail-suspension behaviors. Altogether, 25–106 represents a promising preclinical Cdk5 inhibitor that can be systemically administered with significant potential as a neurological/neuropsychiatric therapeutic.

Objective To analyze role of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors on urodynamic parameters in patients with suprasacral spinal cord injury. Materials and Methods This was a prospective observational hospital-based study conducted on a cohort of patients, aged between 18 and 65 years with suprasacral spinal cord injury, who were registered in Department of Neurosurgery/Urology. Cutoff period since injury was 2 years. After taking consent, baseline urodynamic study was performed, which was repeated 2 hours after taking single oral dose of 20 mg tadalafil. Urodynamic parameters such as maximum detrusor filling/voiding pressures, maximum bladder capacity, and bladder compliance before and after taking drug were compared for final results and conclusion. Results Following administration of 20 mg of tadalafil, maximum bladder capacity in mL showed statistically significant improvement from 268.39 ± 130.0 to 298.55 ± 112.0.(p < 0.05). Bladder compliance improved from 18.68 ± 6.4 to 20.25 ± 7.5 mL/cm H2O (p > 0.05). Maximum detrusor filling pressure improved from 36.03 ± 20.54 to 32.90 ± 16.47 cm H2O (p > 0.05). Maximum detrusor voiding pressure improved from 64.65 ± 33.19 to 58.13 ± 20.7 cm H2O (0 > 0.05). In patients with injury above D6 spinal cord level, statistically significant improvement was seen in maximum bladder capacity and bladder compliance after 2 hours of single oral dose of tadalafil (p < 0.05). Conclusion Our study suggests a positive role of PDE inhibitors in improving urodynamic parameters in patients with suprasacral spinal cord injury with improvement in parameters such as bladder capacity, detrusor pressures, and bladder compliance. Because this is a small study group, more studies such as this are required to reach to final conclusion.

Background: Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is one of the most common brain tumors. Despite multimodal treatment with surgery and chemoradiotherapy, survival outcome remains bleak. Many patients do not tolerate and complete such aggressive treatment. Our Center is the largest tertiary care referral hospital in the region; we report our findings about 5-year outcome in these patients. Methods: From January 2014 to December 2018, we conducted a retrospective observational study. We included patients with histopathologically proven diagnosis of GBM. Descriptive statistics of patient data was retrieved from patient files at Hospital Based Cancer Registry (HBCR) at our State Cancer Institute (SCI). All the data was recorded and analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Results: 54 histopathologically proven cases of GBM were enrolled. Most patients were in the fifth and sixth decade of life, with a male to female ratio of 2:1. Headache was the most common presenting symptom in 23 (42.5%) patients followed by seizures in 13 (24%) patients. The average lesion size was 4.7 cm. Gross total excision was done in 12 (22%) patients, near total excision in 8 (15%) patients. 48 (89%) patients received radiation therapy concurrent with temozolomide. 4 (7.4%) patients had complete response with chemoradiotherapy. Median survival was 16 months. Patients who underwent Gross total excision or near total excision had a median survival of 15.9±3.56 months, whereas patients who underwent subtotal excision had a median survival of 8.29±4.14 months. Patients who completed trimodality therapy had better survival. Conclusion: Patients receiving trimodality therapy with gross total excision and adjuvant chemoradiation achieve best survival rates. Advanced age, poor performance score, larger tumor size, deep seated lesions, suboptimal tumor excision, and steroid dependency carry poor prognosis.

The study aims to examine if cash rich firms become acquirers. The study was based on the largest 100 deals completed in the year 2017. The sample deal was selected among the 9000 deals in the year 2017. The source of data was Thomson Reuters. Firms were classified into cash rich and cash poor based on a baseline model. Six binary logistic regression models were used to examine the likelihood of a firm becoming an acquirer. The results suggest that higher the cash intensity, greater is the probability of firms becoming acquirer firms. In other words, cash rich firms tend to become acquirers. Higher the leverage, greater the propensity of firms to become acquirer. Lower EPS for firms have higher acquisition likelihood.Keywords: Debt Repayment, Mergers and Acquisitions, Capital Investments, Cash reserves, Corporate RestructuringJEL Classifications: G30; G34DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijefi.7867

The purpose of this paper is to explore the key barriers in dairy supply chain and to analyze their interactions in the context of Indian dairy industry. A total of eight barriers have been identified through literature review and the opinions of an expert team consisting of managerial and technical experts from dairy industry and academics. A questionnaire has been developed for identified barriers and responses were collected from select dairy industries located at northern India. Interpretive structure modeling (ISM) is used to analyze the interactions among barriers and to propose a structural model. Further, the importance of barriers is determined based on their driving and dependence power using MICMAC analysis. The ISM-based model allocates to 'traceability, unbalanced production line, over-processing' as key barriers, 'wastages and high production downtime' comes next. MICMAC analysis depicts one autonomous barrier, one dependent barrier and six linkage barriers. The ISM-based model and MICMAC analysis will support the decision makers in dairy industry for planning their supply chain activities in an efficient way by managing the identified barriers.

Dairy industry is one of the essential global industries with considerably important implications for world economy where the dairy supply chains (DSC) cover every stage of the food system starting from the milk production at farmer level to final consumption. For achieving success in the dairy supply chain, it is needed to focus on critical factors (CFs) that are necessary for an organization to achieve its corporate goals with continually improving the operational performance. In this context, the current study is an attempt to identify the critical factors causing low-productivity in dairy supply chains. After comprehensive literature review and pilot studies in some dairy industries located in northern region of India, a total of 32 critical factors have been identified. A structured questionnaire consisting of 32 CFs have been circulated and the data has been collected from select cooperative dairy units. Further, only eight major critical factors have been carried forward for AHP analysis based on the data collected. The factor having higher weightage score is considered as major CF. The findings of this study indicate that the poor logistics and transportation facilities is the most critical factor as productivity barrier in the context of coop. milk processing units in northern India. This research study would be useful for the dairy professionals & managers of milk processing units to manage their production operations effectively by considering the identified CFs.

This study aims to investigate the awareness level of Biomedical waste managements in healthcare facilities, and their perception among hospital waste management team, doctors, nurses, lab techni-cians and waste handlers in Northwest Delhi region in India. The study has been conducted through a questionnaire survey followed by the descriptive statistical analysis method. Question-naire contains of 38 questions, where the first section deals with the hospital waste management team, the second section is for doctors, nurses and lab technicians, and the third section is for the waste handlers. Out of 311 respondents, there were 16 hospital waste management teams, 81 doc-tors, 92 nurses, 49 lab technicians and 73 waste handlers. It was surprising that only 40% (n=10) hospitals had any kind of waste treatment & disposal facility onsite, only 10% hospitals were using the latest technology and 60% hospitals shred the Biomedical waste before disposal. It was good to see that none of the hospital waste managements disposed the waste with general waste, and 40% of them were exhausting through government agencies and the remaining 60% were using private agencies to dispose the waste. Finally, all the hospitals maintained the record of waste generated. It is concluded that there was a lack of awareness about the biomedical waste generation, legislation and management among healthcare personnel, and they all needed regular audits and training pro-grams at all levels, and a proper management starting from waste generation to its disposal at sites.

Banks have a vital role in the financial system and its survival is crucial for the stability of the economy. This research paper attempts to create an efficient and appropriate predictive model using a machine learning approach for an early warning system of bank failure. This paper uses data collected for failed and survived public and private sector banks for the period of 2000–2017 located in India. Bank-specific variables as well as macroeconomic and market structure variables have been used to identify the stress level for banks. Since the number of failed banks in India is very less in comparison to surviving banks, the problem of imbalanced data arises and most of the machine learning algorithms do not work very well with such data. This paper uses a novel approach Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) to convert imbalanced data in a balanced form. Lasso regression is used to reduce the redundant features from the failure predictive model. To avoid the bias and over-fitting in the models, random forest and AdaBoost techniques are applied and compared with the logistic regression to get the best predictive model. The result of the study holds its application to various stakeholders like shareholders, lenders and borrowers etc. to measure the financial stress of banks. This study offers an analytical approach ranging from the selection of the most significant bank failure specific indicators using lasso regression, converting data from imbalanced to balanced form using SMOTE and the choice of the appropriate machine learning techniques to predict the failure of the bank.

The advanced manufacturing and machining techniques are adopting a population-based metaheuristic algorithm for production, predicting and decision-making. Using the same approach, this paper deals with the application of bees algorithm and differential evolution to forecast the optimal parametric values aiming to obtain maximum material removal rate during electrochemical discharge machining of silicon carbide particle/glass fiber–reinforced polymer matrix composite. The bees algorithm follows swarm-based approach, while differential evolution works on a population-based approach. The experimental design was prepared on the basis of Taguchi’s methodology using an L 16 orthogonal array. For the experimental analysis, the main variables in the process, that is, electrolyte concentration (g/L), inter-electrode gap (mm), duty factor and voltage (volts), were selected as main input parameters, and material removal rate (mg/min) was adjudged as output quality characteristic. A comparative investigation reveals that the maximum material removal rate was obtained by the parametric value proposed by differential evolution that follows the bees algorithm and Taguchi’s methodology. Furthermore, the results prove that the differential evolution algorithm has better collective assessment capability with a rapid converging rate.

In the classical EOQ models it has been considered that demand is deterministic but in many practical situations it is not possible to have a fixed demand. This study discusses the more realistic overview of demand, as in realistic situation having dependent demand is difficult; it is possible only if you’re supplying sub-assembly parts on contract basis. Therefore, this study considers stochastic demand. Here maximum demand is dependent on average yearly demand and prescribed demand function .Thus initial inventory level is taken to be maximum demand derived with the help of demand function and average demand. Demand pattern considered in this model was proposed by Naddor (1966) in his book “Inventory Systems” with various realistic factors. The realistic factors considered are selling price is always greater than cost price, permissible delay in payments and even the optimality of profit equation has been checked. This study proves by optimality conditions that the profit maximization equations derived in this model help to maximize profit.

Today, the global business environment compels enterprises to consider rest of the world in their competitive strategy analysis where firms ignore external factors such as economic trends, competitive positions or technology advancement in other countries. While going truly global with supply chain management, a company develops product in the United States, produce in India and trade in Europe, and they have changed the traditional operation management & logistical activities. This change in trade and the modernization of transport infrastructures have elevated the importance of flow management to new levels. Manufacturers and researchers have noticed many problems concerning supply chain activities, and usually either a system or subcomponent in supply chains is discussed in the literature, but they fails to answer the rational (why, what, how) behind them. This paper addresses a review of the principles, bottlenecks and strategies of supply chain practices for organizations with an emphasis on the implications of Indian agri-food sector. Findings of this review reveal that the human & environmental issues, improved product visibility, food safety/quality and the associated economic benefits in sustainable agri-food supply chains can be achieved through innovation, collaboration, elimination of uncertainties and introducing global SCM practices into green & lean initiatives.

BACTEC 460 has now been phased out, so the search for an alternative is imperative. We have determined the activity of standard anti-tuberculosis drugs against intramacrophage Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in vitro, by using BACTEC 460 and MGIT 960 methods. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and streptomycin against intracellular M. tuberculosis H37Rv were found to be 0.2, 0.8, 8.0, and 5.0 μg/mL, respectively, by both methods. These results show a significant (p

Dairy farming is a subsidiary profession of agriculture in India where dairy cooperatives are an important part of rural development. The current study explores the critical factors in the dairy supply chain, and provides an initial decision framework for its implications. The necessary data were collected from dairy producer members including dairy farmers, executives, and key informants of processing units, to summarize the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT) of the milk processing system in India. This includes identifying the objectives of the dairy industry, along with the internal and external critical factors (CFs). SWOT exploration does not offer any investigative basis for evaluating the priorities of CFs, therefore the analytic hierarchy process is applied to define the priorities of identified CFs. The CFs have also been ordered according to relative importance. The findings of this study depict that the SWOT based methodology offers vital sensitivity in assessing the supply chain strategies for the dairy industry.

This study was conducted for developing a high frequency regeneration system in two genotypes of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), Punjab Upma and IPA-3 for direct shoot regeneration from hypocotyl explants. The explants were excised from in vitro tomato seedlings and cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of hormones. Direct regeneration was significantly influenced by the genotype hormones combination and concentrations. The MS medium supplemented with (Kinetin 0.5 mg/l) and (BAP 0.5 mg/l) was found optimum for inducing direct shoot regeneration and number of shoots per explant from hypocotyl explants on this medium. Shoot regeneration per cent in Punjab Upma and IPA-3 per cent was recorded to be highest i.e (86.02) and (82.57) respectively. Besides this, average number shoots per explant was also highest i.e (3.16) in case of Punjab Upma and (2.93) in case of IPA-3. A significant decline was observed in percent shoot regeneration and average number of shoots per explant with increase in the hormonal concentration. Shoots were obtained and transferred to the elongation medium (MS + BAP 0.3 mg/l). Hundred per cent rooting was induced in separated shoots upon culturing on MS and MS basal media. Hardening on moist cotton showed maximum plantlet survival rate in case of both genotypes. After hardening, plants were transferred to soil. Thus, a tissue culture base line was established in tomato for obtaining direct regeneration using hypocotyl as explants.

Purpose: The present study has been carried out to study whether and how different aspects of brand management (brand identity, brand image and brand meaning) are instrumental in maintaining and enhancing attachment strength of students with higher education institutes (HEIs). Further, to understand what brand management aspect channels the impact of what branding driver on attachment strength in most effective manner. Design/methodology/approach: The study analysed combined mediating effects as well as specific mediating effects to test the mediating role of brand management aspects. Findings: The study reveals that brand image plays highest mediating role among all aspects of brand management. HEIs need to enhance service quality because brand image carries the highest influence of service quality on attachment strength. Similarly, brand identity carries the highest influence of heritage on attachment strength. Brand meaning carries the highest influence of competence and reputation on attachment strength. Research limitations/implications: The present study, based on empirical research, has built the framework and mechanism for creating attachment strength utilising the intangible resources of HEIs through brand management. The present study examines how specific intangible resources exhibit varying influences on attachment strength via distinct brand management mediation effects. Practical implications: The present study provides framework for designing branding strategies to build and channelise necessary intangible resources of branding for nourishing and nurturing attachment strength. Originality/value: The present study contributes to scarce branding literature in context of HEIs. The study proposes role of HEI branding in developing students' attachment strength with their HEIs.

Information and communication technology (ICT) has been the backbone of businesses for some time now. ICT adoption has rendered data availability in vertically connected organizations. In recent times, the rise of analytics has paved the way to rethink the structure and working of vertically connected firms within a supply chain. Big data analytics (BDA) for instance, has become a prominent tool to analyse unstructured data. This study explores the application and benefit of various types of analytics such as descriptive analytics, predictive analytics and prescriptive analytics in the process of supply chain management (SCM). Additionally, the study also looks at ways by which analytics could integrally be included within the SCM curriculum in higher education to prepare future supply chain analyst. Notably, the article is positioned for bridging the gap between the use of analytics in SCM, both from academia and the industry perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]