Does Perceived Organizational Support and Job Resourcefulness Lead to Innovation? Mediation Model of Psychological Empowerment

Nadeem AKHTAR(Nadeem AKHTAR ) 한국유통과학회 2023 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.10 No.2

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between POS, JR, and Innovation, and to explore the role of job psychological empowerment as a mediator in this relationship. A structured questionnaire was distributed to 25 companies in the petrochemical industry. PLS-SEM 4 was used to analyze the data of 100 valid responses. These findings suggest that employee empowerment (EMPOW) fully mediates the relationship between job resourcefulness (JR) and Innovation (INNOV). The total effect of JR on INNOV is also significant, with a beta coefficient of 0.234 and a t-value of 3.375. However, when the mediating influence of EMPOW is taken into account, the effect of JR on INNOV is no longer significant, with a beta coefficient of 0.100 and a t-value of 1.610. This suggests that EMPOW plays a key role in the relationship between JR and INNOV and that JR may not have a direct impact on Innovation. The study informs the development of interventions or strategies for promoting Innovation in organizations by identifying key factors that facilitate or inhibit the innovation process. The study further contributes to the development of new theories or models on the relationship between perceived organizational support, job resourcefulness, psychological empowerment, and Innovation.

Impact of Approval Goals and Motivation on Consumer Intention: A Retail Context

Muhammad Farooq AKHTAR(Muhammad Farooq AKHTAR ),Norazah Mohd SUKI(Norazah Mohd SUKI ) 한국유통과학회 2022 유통과학연구 Vol.20 No.12

Purpose: The objective of the study is to examine the role of approval goals, subjective norm, internal motivation, external motivation, attitude towards behavior, and perceived behavioral control on retail consumer’s intention to consume fortified food in Pakistan. Research design, data, and methodology: The study was quantitative in nature. That is why the data were collected from 384 respondents approaching retail stores of Lahore, Gujranwala, and Faisalabad using mall intercept survey. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the data. Results: The results show that approval goals significantly influence subjective norms. Secondly, subjective norms positively influence internal and external motivation. Thirdly, attitude towards behavior and internal motivation significantly impacted on intention. However, the findings of the study show, non-significant relationship of external motivation and perceived behavioral control with intention to consume fortified food. Conclusion: Theory of reasoned goal pursuit was used to investigate consumer intention to consume fortified food in Pakistan. This study is helpful for the marketers to create a word-of-mouth strategy to enhance positive word of mouth for the company, which ultimately beneficial to develop the distribution strategy of the firm. Fortified food is full of health enriched ingredients which is beneficial for society at large.

Formulation of Edible Coatings from Alfalfa Saponins to Enhance the Postharvest Quality of Tomatoes

Mahnoor Akhtar,Aqsa Akhtar,Wahab Nazir,Nauman Khalid 한국식품영양과학회 2023 Preventive Nutrition and Food Science Vol.28 No.2

Tomatoes are a major crop for global exports and have significant nutritional benefits. However, their lifespan is limited due to various biotic and abiotic factors. This study aimed to formulate an edible coating using crude alfalfa saponins coupled with decaglycerol monolaurate (ML-750) and polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20), to enhance the postharvest quality and shelf life of tomatoes by preventing spoilage. The effectiveness of alfalfa saponins coatings, both alone, and with ML-750 and Tween 20, was evaluated by comparing their impact on color, texture, overall acceptability, and % weight loss at 4°C and 25°C for 7 days. Significant improvements were observed in the quality attributes of tomatoes, including firmness, aroma, color, texture, and overall acceptability. Crude alfalfa saponins in emulsified form with Tween 20 increased the shelf stability of tomatoes more effectively than uncoated and ML-750 combined coatings. The total soluble solids (TSS) and pH also play a crucial role in determining the quality of the fruits. The results indicated no significant changes in the TSS of tomatoes coated with encapsulated saponins. Subsequently, a gradual increase in the pH of the coated tomatoes was observed on days 5 and 7, respectively. The findings of this study revealed that alfalfa saponins coupled with synthetic emulsifiers may be a beneficial strategy for prolonging the shelf life and improving the postharvest quality of tomatoes.

Genotypes of Hepatitis C Virus in Relapsed and Non-respondent Patients and their Response to Anti-Viral Therapy in District Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Pakistan

Akhtar, Noreen,Bilal, Muhammad,Rizwan, Muhammad,Khan, Muhammad Asif,Khan, Aurangzeb Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.3

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infectious disease of liver, caused by a small enveloped, positive-single stranded RNA virus, called the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV belongs to the Flaviviridae family and has 6 genotypes and more than 100 subtypes. It is estimated that 185 million people are infected with HCV worldwide and 5% of these are in Pakistan. The study was designed to evaluate different genotypes of HCV circulating in District Mardan and to know about the behavior of these genotypes to different anti-viral regimes. In this study 3,800 patients were exposed to interferon alfa-2a plus Ribavirin treatment for 6-months and subjected to real-time PCR to check the viral response. Among these 3,677 (97%) patients showed no detectable HCV RNA while 123 (3%) patients (non-responders) remained positive for HCV RNA. Genotypes of their analyzed showed that most of them belonged to the 3a genotype. Non-responders (123) and relapsed (5) patients were subjected to PEG-interferon and Ribavirin therapy for next 6 months, which resulted into elimination of HCV RNA from 110 patients. The genotypes of the persisting resistant samples to anti-viral treatment were 3b, 2a, 1a and 1b. Furthermore, viral RNA from 6 patients remained un-typed while 4 patients showed mixed infections. HCV was found more resistant to antiviral therapy in females as compared to mals. The age group 36-45 in both females and males was found most affected by infection. In general 3a is the most prevalent genotype circulating in district Mardan and the best anti-viral therapy is PEG-interferon plus Ribavirin but it is common practice that due to the high cost patients receive interferon alfa-2a plus Ribavirin with consequent resistance in 3% patients given this treatment regime.

Line Security Evaluation of WANS Considering Protectability of Relays and Vulnerability of Lines

Akhtar Hussain,Chang-Ju Seok,Myeon-Song Choi,Seung-Jae Lee,Seong-IL-Lim 대한전기학회 2014 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.9 No.6

Maloperation of protective relays is one of the major causes for cascading tripping in WANS. Another line trip followed by a previous line trip may occur due to overloading of the line, because of the load redistribution or unwanted trip of a backup relay due to change in the flow of fault current. Evaluation of each line is required by considering both of these effects. A new index named Line Security Index (LSI) is proposed in this paper which combines both Vulnerability Index (VI) and Protectability Index (PI) to completely evaluate the security of individual lines and their importance in the power grid. Computer simulations have been performed on the Korean power grid data to establish the feasibility of the proposed idea.

Thermally grown ZnO nanosheets for high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells.

Akhtar, M Shaheer,Hyung, Jung-Hwan,Yang, O-Bong,Cho, Nam-Kyu,Hwang, Hak-In,Lee, Sang-Kwon American Scientific Publishers 2010 Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Vol.10 No.5

<P>High efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated using ZnO nanosheet electrodes. ZnO nanosheets were synthesized on top of fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass using Zn(OAc)2 as a precursor in the gold catalyzed chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method at a temperature of 800-900 degrees C. The synthesized materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and Raman and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Typical DSSCs with ZnO nanosheets achieved moderately good conversion efficiency eta of approximately 2.12% with short-circuit current density J(SC) = 3.56 mA/cm2, open-circuit voltage V(OC) = 0.831 V, and fill factor FF = 71%. The high J(SC) and eta are attributed to high dye absorption through high surface ZnO nanosheets, which increased the light harvesting. The lower recombination rate was also observed in the ZnO nanosheet electrodes, resulting in high values of V(OC) and FF in the DSSCs.</P>

O-GlcNAcylation of NF- B Promotes Lung Metastasis of Cervical Cancer Cells via Upregulation of CXCR4 Expression

Akhtar Ali,김성환,김민준,최미영,강상수,조경제,김윤숙,최준영,최완성 한국분자세포생물학회 2017 Molecules and cells Vol.40 No.7

C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) stimulates cancer metastasis. NF- B regulates CXCR4 expression in cancer cells, and O-GlcNAc modification of NF- B promotes its transcriptional activity. Here, we determined whether CXCR4 expression is affected by O-GlcNAcylation of NF- B in lung metastasis of cervical cancer. We found elevated levels of O-linked-N-actylglucosamine transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcylation in cervical cancer cells compared to those in non-malignant epithelial cells and detected increased expression of NF- B p65 (p65) and CXCR4 in cervical cancer cells. Knockdown of OGT inhibited the O-GlcNAcylation of p65 and decreased CXCR4 expression levels in HeLa cells. Thiamet G treatment increased O-GlcNAcylated p65, which subsequently enhanced CXCR4 expression levels. Inhibition of O-GlcNAcylation by 6-Diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON) treatment decreased p65 activation, eventually inhibiting CXCR4 expression in HeLa cells. Lung tissues from mice engrafted with OGT-knockdown HeLa cells (shOGT) exhibited lower expression of Ki 67 and HPV E6 and E7 oncogenes com-pared to lung tissues from mice engrafted with control HeLa cells (shCTL). In addition, lung tissues from mice engrafted with shOGT cells exhibited lower p65 and CXCR4 immunoreactivity compared to tissues from mice engrafted with shCTL cells. Taken together, our data suggest that p65 O-GlcNAcylation promotes lung me-tastasis of cervical cancer cells by activating CXCR4 expression.

Field Evaluation of Mungbean Recombinant Inbred Lines against Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Disease Using New Disease Scale in Thailand

Akhtar, Khalid P.,Kitsanachandee, R.,Srinives, P.,Abbas, G.,Asghar, M.J.,Shah, T.M.,Atta, B.M.,Chatchawankanphanich, O.,Sarwar, G.,Ahmad, M.,Sarwar, N. The Korean Society of Plant Pathology 2009 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.25 No.4

Studies were conducted to identify the sources of resistance in mungbean recombinant inbred lines (RILs) in Thailand against mungbean yellow mosaic disease (MYMD). 146 mungbean RILs in $F_8$ series were evaluated in a field including resistant parent NM-10-12-1 and susceptible parent KPS 2 during summer 2008 under high inoculum pressure. The RILs were subsequently scored for disease symptom severity ratings (DSSR) using a new scale. Observations regarding DSSR and % disease index (%DI) showed that the tested RILs responded differently to the disease. A large number of RILs (132) were found highly susceptible, 12 were susceptible, 3 were tolerant and one was resistant. Overall screening results showed that three RILs, viz. line no. 30, 100 and 101 had minimum DSSR and % disease index thus they are good source of resistance to MYMD in spite of high disease pressure and can therefore be used directly as varieties to manage the disease in Thailand.

Three-dimensional atomic force microscopy for ultra-high-aspect-ratio imaging

Akhtar, Imtisal,Rehman, Malik Abdul,Choi, Woosuk,Kumar, Sunil,Lee, Neasung,Cho, Sang-Joon,Park, Hyeong-Ho,Park, Kyung-Ho,Seo, Yongho Elsevier 2019 APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE - Vol.469 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Three-dimensional (3D) imaging of nanostructures with high aspect ratio features is a challenging problem of broad relevance to nanoscience and nanotechnology. Though a wide variety of experimental strategies to improve 3D imaging capabilities have been proposed, current measurement capabilities are mainly limited to imaging deep trenches, in large part due to the lack of truly 3D scanning algorithms and limited dynamic control of the tilt angle. Herein, we report a non-contact atomic force microscope (AFM) strategy that overcomes these challenges by employing an intelligent 3D scanning algorithm that combines sidewall detection and real-time adjustment of the probe’s direction. To test this approach, we measured the depth and sidewall topography of porous anodic aluminum oxide (trench), via holes and silicon nanopillar (protrusion) with precision tracing. Using a carbon nanotube-based AFM probe, it was possible to measure the depth of holes with an aspect ratio of 5.9. In addition to this, we have successfully achieved the 3D image of via holes with an aspect ratio of 4.3 and a resolution of 2 nm, which enables realistic profiling of the sidewall and bottom edge of holes. Taken together, our findings demonstrate how the intelligent scanning algorithm based on detection-and-decision with a high-aspect-ratio probe can be utilized as a broadly applicable nanoscience measurement tool to characterize 3D topographical features of nanostructures.</P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

A single blind randomised placebo controlled clinical trial of a classical Ayurvedic formulation Ashokarista in the treatment of menorrhagia and dysmenorrhoea

Akhtar, Yasmeen,Alamgir, Mahiuddin,Khan, Mahmud Tareq Hassan,Hannan, JMA.,Choudhuri, M Shahabuddin Kabir Kyung Hee Oriental Medicine Research Center 2007 Oriental pharmacy and experimental medicine Vol.7 No.4

A well known Ayurvedic formulation Ashokarista, used for menstrual disorders has been studied in a single blind randomised placebo controlled clinical trial for the treatment of menorrhagia and dysmenorrhoea. Dysmenorrhoea and menorrhagia patients who were taking Ashokarista (20 ml twice daily) for 10 menstrual cycles had an increase in haemoglobin level. Menorrhagia treated group has shown to reduce the erythrocyte sedimentation rate level that has been increased in the menorrhagia control group. The platelet count, total count and differential count were observed unchanged in the study. The Ashokarista did not affect the SGPT and SGOT level, which signify its lack of toxicity in hepatic function. The treated menorrhagic patients showed an increase in serum albumin content and decrease in blood clotting time, whereas the serum protein content was observed unchanged. There was a significant increase in both serum cholesterol and triglyceride level, which usually associated with the use of oral contraceptives. No major side effects were observed by the clinicians during the study.