Epithelial sodium channels (ENaC) is a protein that plays a role in maintaining sodium levels and can be used as a biomarker of hypertension. This study aims to develop an electrochemical immunosensor for detecting ENaC using a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) which is modified with reduced graphene oxide (RGO). The performance of RGO enhanced to provide covalent bonds between the -COOH residues at RGO and the terminal -NH2 of anti-ENaC. While anti-ENaC and ENaC decrease the peak of ferric cyanides current because of the resistance effect. The optimum concentration of anti-ENaC was 1.0 µg/mL for 30 min incubation time. The various concentration of ENaC has a linear relationship with the decreasing of ferric cyanide peak current in the range of 0.01-1.5 ng/mL, and the limit of detection found at 0.198 ng/mL. The low-level exposure of ENaC warrants the realization of a point-of-care device for early detection of hypertension in urine samples.

In order to investigate the isomerization and conversion mechanism of the advantageous and widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine flurbiprofen, the hybrid density functional theory was applied. According to the results, the rearrangement reaction of (R)-flurbiprofen to its (S)-enantiomer happens in a [1,3]-hydrogen shifts with inversion of configuration at chiral center C14. From the calculated energies, it can be understood that the rate-limiting step in the flurbiprofen isomerization is the excitation of (R)-flurbiprofen methyl ester in its initial form to the first excited singlet state S1 at λ=243.91 nm. we studied this process by scanning the C14-H17 distance for the excited singlet to get more information about the process of isomerization occurring upon excitation. The results of calculations demonstrated that the isomerization process should pass through a ~71 kcal/mol barrier. The (S)-flurbiprofen methyl ester is more photostable than its related (R)-enantiomer. This issue can be attributed to the -1.50 kcal/mol of thermodynamic stability of the (S)-flurbiprofen methyl ester.

Contamination of soils by trace elements is a worldwide concern and has negative effects on environmental sustainability. Geochemical assessment of soils using appropriate indicators and pollution indices has received much attention in recent years in efforts to rehabilitate this resource. This study quantified pollution of soils by trace elements at the Roundhill landfill, South Africa using indices and multivariate statistics. Soils were collected and assayed for trace metals using x-ray fluorescence. Pollution indices classified soil contamination levels while multivariate statistical analysis was conducted using principal component and cluster analyses. Findings showed that concentrations of all elements decreased with increasing distance from the landfill. Low to extremely high pollution was evident in all soils and Cr had the highest values compared to other elements. Negative correlation and weak clustering of Cr and Cd was associated with different wastes disposed at the landfill. Reported pollution in soils was associated with the influence of landfill leachate in the investigated area.

A series of fourteen chalcone was synthesized via. Claisen–Schmidt condensation between substituted 2- hydroxyl acetonaphthones and substituted benzaldehyde in presence of tripotassium phosphate (K3PO4) catalyst. The reaction was carried out by conventional method using 2-methoxyethanol. The procedure is simple and efficient in terms of reaction time, easy workup and isolation of products and yields. In-vitro all these synthesized compounds were screened and evaluated for the cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity. It was found that these compounds had significant cytotoxic activity in comparison with standard 5-flurouracil. The compounds 3a, 3b, 3h, 3f and 3l were screened by MTT assay against liver cancer cell line-HepG2. Among these, the compound 3b and 3c showed LC50 values of 997.14 μM/ml and 284.13 μM/ml., respectively. The remaining compounds did not display the LC50 values. The compound 3l displayed the strongest cytotoxic activities with IC50 value of 91.85 μg/ml against liver cancer cell line. The Chalcone 3a, 3f, 3h and 3e demonstrated excellent antimicrobial activity and the remaining were moderately active against tested pathogens. The antimicrobial effects of all the tested compounds are due to the presence of pharmacological active substituent in the basic nucleus of Chalcones. Therefore, the present study leads to the development of new class of anticancer and antimicrobial inhibitory candidates.

N-Heterocyclic carbenes are widely used in organic reactions and coordination chemistry. In the present study, 2,3-dihydro-1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene (1) is reacted with diphenyl disulfide, methyl phenyl disulfide, and bis(methylsulfonyl)methane to yield target compounds 5, 6, and 7 respectively. Structures of these compounds are well established using nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. Possible reaction mechanisms are proposed.

The phenomenon of the bullwhip effect (BWE) has become a pressing concern in contemporary supply chain management. Every echelon of the supply chain faces the negative consequences of BWE somehow. So, it is crucial to determine the reasons responsible for the BWE to mitigate the consequences. The boutique industry in Bangladesh is a rapidly growing industrial sector. In this study, we focused on finding the reasons and consequences of the bullwhip effect on the boutique industry in Dhaka city. The main targets of this study are to examine the underlying reasons for the BWE, identify the most significant causes from the perspective of Dhaka city, and determine the major consequences of the bullwhip effect. Studies of previous literature and consultation with experts have identified sixteen common causes behind the bullwhip effect. This study uses a survey-based method; respondents are chosen through clustered sampling. Necessary data have been collected with a semi-organized inquiry form. Among all the 16 causes, six causes are found to be the most significant causes from the perspective of retailers and wholesalers. SPSS Version 26 has been used for statistical analysis to make the final decision. We also found ten consequences commonly faced by these two echelons of the boutiques' supply chain because of the bullwhip effect. These are high inventory costs, workforce wastages and higher labor costs, higher replenishment lead-time, higher transportation costs, tension in the buyer-supplier relationship, product unavailability, loss of profit, poor customer service, etc.

In very small organizations, the role of the manager in the choice and implementation of tools is predominant. In these entities, resources are scarce and accounting information systems are not very formalized. In this research work, we therefore sought to identify the typical profile of this manager and to understand his propensity to use accounting data. Several recent studies have highlighted the relevance of the concept of organizational bricolage to analyze the practices of small businesses. With this in mind, we have sought to explore the ways in which managers of small businesses use accounting information systems. For this, we opted for the qualitative research method based on semi-structured interviews with managers of small Tunisian companies. To conduct this study, we used a qualitative methodology. 36 companies were selected for study. The cross-site case study was favored because it maximizes generalization bias. Finally, the profile of the manager has an influence on the SIC and induces a type of MSE. The results of our research led to the conclusion that there are three types of small business leaders: survivalists, emerging and structured.

This research was conducted to see the influence of board characteristics, the firm size on firm value, and financial performance on companies with completed mergers and acquisitions on the Indonesian stock exchange. This study was used to look at financial performance, specifically in 7 years after the company made a merger from 2013-2020. This research instrument uses quantitative analysis data by testing predetermined hypotheses. The study also found that not all variables significantly impact the company's firm value and financial performance when conducting mergers. The main finding is that the more excellent board characteristic of the merger company will result in no improvement in the company's financial performance; this is due to a large number of improper decision-making actions because the rules issued by the board hinders it.

Theories working in the developed world sometimes fail to prove their accuracy in the developing world. So, researchers study these theories based on various countries, on different timelines as the real world is not so straight forward as theories & assumptions. In Bangladesh, very little work has been done regarding the effect of directors’ compensation on firm performance. So, this study has been undertaken to examine the relationship between these two. To test the theory a model comprising the age of the firm, log value of its assets, total asset turnover, firm size, and firm performance was developed. Using a sample of 38 listed firms of DSE from the Pharmaceutical & Chemical and Paper & Printing Industry as per the DSE website fixed-effect model & random effect model was run on the data from 2015 to 2021. And as the Hausman test suggested, the fixed-effect model is chosen to be more fit for BEP (Basic Earning Power). The focus of the study was the impact of directors’ compensation on firm performance. According to the analysis, it showed a negative correlation between directors’ compensation and firm performance. Firm size and asset turnover ratio have moderately positive correlation to the firm’s performance. On the other hand, board independence holds an opposite relation. It was also found that the firm’s age and board size have little to no correlation to the firm’s performance.

This paper investigates the potential correlation between the performance of Audit Committees (AC) and Audit Quality (AQ). Data is derived from capital goods firms listed on the main stock exchange of Saudi Arabia (TASI). Logit regression analysis is used for this purpose and the dependent variable of BIG4 is used as a proxy for AQ, while AC meetings (ACMT), size (ACSZ), and AC members with a financial background (ACEX) are used as explanatory variables. The results show no statistical association between ACMT and AQ. However, the analysis indicates a positive statistical relationship between ACSZ and AQ, and a strong negative association between ACEX and AQ. These findings provide insights into the impact of AC attributes on AQ, and would be of interest to decision makers, policy-makers, investors, and senior management.