Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Vaccine Logistics in India

The following sections are included: • Vaccination Platform for the Country • The Second and Third Waves of Covid-19 in India • Vaccine Manufacturing in India • Vaccine Service Chain Ecosystem • Institutions • Resources • Delivery Service Infrastructure • GRIP Framework • Governance • • Orchestration • • Partner Selection • • Coordination • • Execution • Risks • Innovation • Performance • India's Vaccination Ecosystem for Covid-19 • Conclusion • Acknowledgments • References. © 2023 by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.

Antiviral activity of the human endogenous retrovirus-R envelope protein against SARS-CoV-2

Coronavirus-induced disease-19 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, is still a major global health challenge. Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) represent retroviral elements that were integrated into the ancestral human genome. HERVs are important in embryonic development as well as in the manifestation of diseases, including cancer, inflammation, and viral infections. Here, we analyze the expression of several HERVs in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells and observe increased activity of HERV-E, HERV-V, HERV-FRD, HERV-MER34, HERV-W, and HERV-K-HML2. In contrast, the HERV-R envelope is downregulated in cell-based models and PBMCs of COVID-19 patients. Overexpression of HERV-R inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication, suggesting its antiviral activity. Further analyses demonstrate the role of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in regulating HERV-R antiviral activity. Lastly, our data indicate that the crosstalk between ERK and p38 MAPK controls the synthesis of the HERV-R envelope protein, which in turn modulates SARS-CoV-2 replication. These findings suggest the role of the HERV-R envelope as a prosurvival host factor against SARS-CoV-2 and illustrate a possible advantage of integration and evolutionary maintenance of retroviral elements in the human genome.Copyright © 2023 The Authors.

Preempting fraud: a financial distress prediction perspective on combating financial crime

Purpose: The prevention of fraudulent activities, particularly within a financial context, is of paramount significance in all spheres, as it not only impacts the sustainability of corporate entities but also has the potential to have a broader economy-wide impact. This paper aims to focus on dual implications associated with financial distress, the first being associated with the temptation to launder funds due to financial distress, and the second being the potential for illicit activities, such as fraud, money laundering or terror financing, to give rise to financial distress. Design/methodology/approach: The paper examines the literature on financial distress and uses theories of financial crime to establish a link between financial distress and financial crime. Findings: In recent years, there has been a surge in corporate financial distress, particularly in the aftermath of concurrent crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia–Ukraine war. Through a comprehensive examination of literature pertaining to financial distress and financial crime, this study identifies a proclivity towards fraudulent conduct arising from instances of financial distress. Moreover, the engagement in such illicit activities subsequently exacerbates the financial distress. An analysis of the relationship between financial crime and financial distress reveals the existence of a vicious cycle between the two. Originality/value: The results of this study have the potential to advance understanding of the relationship between financial distress and financial crime, which has been previously underexplored. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Delay Prediction to Mitigate E-commerce Supplier Disruptions using Voting Mechanism

COVID-19 has severely affected supply chains and last-mile logistics. With a remarkable expansion in the internet-based deals of B2C online business and changed customer behaviors, it is critical to estimate delays with sufficient precision to avoid time-related uncertainty. The risk of a supplier's delivery being late will harm businesses' ability to fulfill client orders. Shipment information of an online business organization is utilized for the investigation. The dataset is pre-processed and important features are extracted using the Random Forest technique. We propose an enhanced hybrid voting-based classification model with Trees, and Ensemble techniques (like bagging and boosting) enabled by parameters like shipping mode, scheduled shipment time, and order type to anticipate the postponement with the highest accuracy. Since the base classifiers in the voting mechanism cannot perform at the same level, we assigned various weights and noticed a significant improvement in classification performance. Consistently, the proposed model depicts improved performance and provides strategic, operational, and industrial insights for decision-making in last-mile businesses. Copyright (C) 2022 The Authors.

Demand Forecasting of a Multinational Retail Company using Deep Learning Frameworks

In this modern era of digitization, the competition is significantly increasing among retailers. One of the major challenges for them is demand prediction or sales forecasting. Especially in this Covid pandemic, retail sales forecasting became very crucial due to the employee shortage, and increasing online demand. In the modern era of digitization, competition is increasing. This research explores the application of an advanced deep learning approach in predicting the market demands in advance of individual products for the future seasons. This application aims to support an American Multinational Retail company in ordering, purchasing, and managing inventory. Accordingly, the company provides a real sales dataset to perform this study. This research proposes two sales forecasting strategies based on LSTM and LGBM models. We first execute data preprocessing techniques using statistical feature engineering on the raw sales data. Thereafter perform the LSTM and LGBM algorithms for training and prediction. LGBM takes past data from lag feature engineering for better forecasting. For that, we found that LGBM performs better than LSTM in forecasting. Copyright (C) 2022 The Authors.

Scaling up the Digitalization of the Public Distribution System: A COVID-19 Pandemic Impetus

Food grain is an essential commodity that requires proper procurement, transportation, storage, and distribution with easy access to needy people. Therefore, The Indian government has established a Public Distribution System (PDS) to distribute the food grain across the country. This study emphasizes the need for digitalization of PDS and how the COVID-19 accelerates the digitalization of PDS. We proposed a three-layer conceptual framework: food grain supply chain network, digital processes automation and digital technologies. We collaborate the three-layer perspectives to ensure food security during the COVID-19 pandemic and reduce the food grain leakage in PDS. This study also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and National Food Security Act aims to achieve the Zero Hunger goal. The proposed research will assist policymakers, institutions, and the government in implementing the digitalization of PDS for greater efficiency and transparency during a pandemic. Furthermore, this work may help to achieve the ambitious "Digital India" programme, which aims to improve India's online infrastructure and electronic services. Copyright (C) 2022 The Authors.

SARS-COV-2 – a major risk factor for pulmonary embolism, a retrospective observational study from a single tertiary care hospital

P46 Table 1Incidence of pe by gender and covid status COVID POSITIVE (309) COVID NEGATIVE (621) TOTAL (930) PE 41 (13.3%) 95 (15.3%) 136 (14.6%) Male 28 (9.1%) 52 (8.4%) 80(8.6%) Female 13(4.2%) 43 (6.9%) 56(6.0%) No PE 268 (86.7%) 526(84.7%) 794 (85.4%) Male 161 (52.1%) 218(35.1%) 379 (40.8%) Female 107 (34.6%) 308(49.6%) 415(44.6%) Total 309 (100%) 621 (100%) 930(100%) ConclusionCovid-19 has been identified as a significant risk factor for PE. These patients must be anti-coagulated in order to avoid various complications, including life-threatening arrhythmias, severe hypoxemia, shock, even death.ReferencesJevnikar M, et al. Prevalence of pulmonary embolism in patients with COVID-19 at the time of hospital admission. European Respiratory Journal 2021 Jul 1;58(1).Katsoularis I, et al. Risks of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and bleeding after covid-19: nationwide self-controlled cases series and matched cohort study. BMJ 2022 Apr 6;377.

Emergence of Silicon Photonics in the Field of Biomedical Sensing Applications: A Review

In the last few decades, the human body is prone to many different types of infectious diseases. This involves making use of technologies for detecting and monitoring the factors responsible for these diseases, and the devices should be free from any kind of harmful radiations. Photonics is considered to be one of the new advancements in the field of technology which can fulfill the need or requirement of biomedical sensing applications. The scope of this review paper summarizes the concept of designing methods and material structures for biomedical applications. These designing methods include plane wave expansion, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), Helium ion lithography, band-gap variations, and refractive index variation of the material. The losses that are incurred or induced during the wave propagation includes adsorption, attenuation, reflection, and diffraction. There are several physical structures of the materials mainly 1D, 2D, 3D, three-layer silicon, five-layer, seven-layer, etc. The above mentioned material structures are used to detect cancer cell, DNA and protein concentration, identifying different mutation of SARS virus which includes COVID-19, as well as in the field of bio-sensing, bio-screening, and drug delivery system. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

Consumer Acatalepsy Towards Buying Behaviour for Need-Based Goods for Sustainability During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose: The study aimed to examine the consumer acatalepsy towards buying behavior for need-based goods (NBGS) for sustainability during COVID-19 and behavioral intentions for NBGS using the framework of value – attitude – behavior in India. Design/Methodology/Approach: Using the extant literature review, the study developed a conceptual model describing consumers’ buying behavior and behavioral int entions related to NBGS. The research employed the hypo-deductive research design approach for carrying out the study. Findings: The study found that attitude, economic depression, subjective norms, perceived consumer effectiveness, availability of control, and buying intention were positively related to the buying behavior of consumers in the NBGS category. Research Limitations/Implications: The research offered new insights into academia and practice using instrumental values, terminal values, and consumer buying behavior. It is unique for providing a fresh perspective on the NBGS and consumer behavior in COVID-19 times. Practical Implications: As the study deep dived into the behavioral aspects of the consumers, it will help shape the attitude of market professionals to analyze the instrumental and terminal values thoroughly. The findings of the research will prove instrumental in more effective and efficient decision-making processes for need-based goods in the consumer market. Social Implications: At individual and social levels, values represent the guiding force that shapes human behavior. This study will help to extend the overall understanding related to consumer behavior in the domain of NBGS using the basis of value and its impact on the behavioral patterns of consumers. Originality/Value: In the context of NBGS, this research paper dealt explicitly with the behavioral factors related to instrumental and terminal values. The study is also unique in that it evaluates the various parameters related to consumers’ buying behavior in the NBGS category during COVID-19. Evaluating these factors makes the research unique and one of its kind in consumer behavior. © 2022, Associated Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd.. All rights reserved.

COVID-19 trepidation: repercussions on air travel anxiety, anger and trust among travellers

This paper aims to investigate how the fear of COVID-19 has impacted the air travel anxiety, anger and trust among the travellers of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, Gujarat by collecting the primary data and analyzing through a variance-based SEM approach. The data was collected from 150 travellers through the snowball sampling technique including people who travelled during unlocking of flights and experienced mental constraints before and during travelling. The study revealed that there is a positive and significant relationship between air travel anxiety and anger with fear of COVID-19 and a negative and significant relationship with trust. The current study has important implications for scholars as well as for airline management to understand how hard people are affected while travelling in the fear of COVID-19 and its spread. It would also help the administration to improve the conditions to ensure the safety of travellers. The paper concludes with a few sets of recommendations because people in India are horrified by the entry of the third variant of COVID-19. © 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Simulating the Impact of COVID-19 Scenarios on Air Freight Logistics Supply Chain

The current business environment seeks practice-oriented logistics solutions to sustain the pandemic situation. Increased capacity in the air freight supply chain and cargo freight operations will necessitate simplified methods to improve cargo handling efficiency. We have investigated the impact of covid 19 scenarios on global airfreight handling services. The findings of a simulation study done on a case of an Indian International Airport specialized cargo division are presented in this article. We addressed the influence of the COVID19 pandemic on supply chains by providing recent instances from one of India's biggest international airports in the eastern zone. Using anyLogistix simulation software, we demonstrate how simulation modeling rapidly and accurately simulates and evaluates supply chain interruptions. The findings of this study may help decision-makers predict operational and tactical risk mitigation methods, as well as the effects of pandemic disruptions. © 2021 IEEE.

A rare disease in the community hospital: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) needs immediate local attention for early recognition and individualized treatment

Purpose: HLH is a severe hyperinflammatory syndrome characterized by highly active cytotoxic T-cells, NK-cells, and macrophages. If undiagnosed, HLH can lead to multiorgan damage and death. Conditions triggering HLH are infections, malignancies and autoimmune/-inflammatory (MAS-HLH) disorders. Immunosuppressive patients are prone to develop infection triggered HLH. The incidence in the European community hospital is unknown, as is the number of unrecorded cases. HLH-patients, diagnosed at a single communal hospital with an adjacent catchment area of 500,000 citizens, were reviewed in the context of national and international guidelines. Methods: From 08/2016 to 11/2020, 13 HLH patients were analysed retrospectively. Both HLH-2004 criteria and the web-based Hscore were used to diagnose HLH. The collected data depicts clinical presentation, underlying disease, laboratory findings, and treatment. Results: This Study includes 13 HLH-patients (10 male). Median age at diagnosis was 53, ranging from 27-80 years. Most common triggers in our cohort were infections (n=7) and malignancies(n=4). MAS-HLH (n=1) was seen in a Still's disease patient. HLH-related gene mutation was identified (n=1) with a heterozygote mutation in Perforin (PrfA91). Lymphomas of B-as well as T-cell origin (n=2) and AML (n=3) represented main cause in malignancy associated HLH. Viral infections i.e., COVID-19(n=1), RSV (n=1) and EBV (n=1), also bacterial infections like M. tuberculosis (n=1), and the attenuated strain BCG (n=2) were seen in infection associated HLH. Most patients presented with fever (n=9) and splenomegaly (n=4). HLH patients show pancytopenia, peak ferritin levels ranging 1352-185000 ng/ml (median=21600), peak soluble IL-2 receptor levels ranging 2571-21660 U/ml (median=6606), and peak triglyceride levels ranging 175-610 mg/ml (median=227). Hemophagocytosis in bone marrow was found in 6 patients. First line therapy was glucocorticoids (n=12) combined with polyvalent immunoglobulins. Etoposide (n=5) and chemotherapy (n=4) were given to malignancy triggered HLH. Rituximab was applied in EBV-triggered HLH. Anakinra (n=3) and Ruxolitinib (n=4) was given to selected patients. Two patients received cytokine-depletion using adsorption columns Cytosorb®. Multiorgan failure (n=5) was the most common cause of death. Conclusion: This data provides incidence estimation of HLH in adult patients. Institutional and national measures will be presented to prevent death due to HLH.

How frugal innovation shape global sustainable supply chains during the pandemic crisis: lessons from the COVID-19

Purpose: The COVID-19 crisis has created enormous strain in global supply chains. The disruption has caused severe shortages of critical items, including personal protective equipment (e.g. face masks), ventilators and diagnostics. The failure of the industry to meet the sudden demand for these necessary items has caused a severe humanitarian crisis. These situations, resulting from the COVID-19, crisis have led to the informal growth of frugal innovation in sustainable global supply chains. This paper aims to provide a detailed overview of drivers of frugal-oriented sustainable global supply chains, following lessons acquired from emerging countries’ attempts to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: The authors used a focused group approach to identify the drivers and this paper further validated them using existing literature published in international peer-reviewed journals and reports. The authors adopted total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) to analyze the complex relationships among identified drivers. Findings: The authors present a theoretical framework to explain how the drivers are interlinked. This paper has developed the framework through a synthesis of the TISM modeling and Matrice d’impacts croisés multiplication appliquée á un classment analysis. This paper observed that government financial support, policies and regulations, under the mediating effect of leadership and the moderating effect of national culture and international rules and regulations, has a significant effect on the adoption of emerging technology, volunteering initiatives and values and ethics. Further, emerging technology, volunteering initiative and values and ethics have a significant effect on supply chain talent and frugal engineering. These results provide some useful theoretical insights that may help in further investigating the role of frugal innovations in other contexts. Originality/value: The authors find that outcomes of the methodical contributions and the resulting managerial insights can be categorized into four levels. Industry and researchers alike can use the study to develop the decision-support systems guiding frugal-oriented sustainable global supply chains amid the COVID-19 pandemic and in recovering them thereafter. Suggestions for future research directions are offered and discussed. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.

COVID-19 prediction through X-ray images using various layers in convolutional neural network

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to focus on the prediction of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) using X-ray image. Design/methodology/approach: This study proposed convolutional neural network (CNN) approach to predict COVID-19. Findings: Prediction of COVID-19 using CNN. Originality/value: The work has implemented multiple CNN models to classify chest X-ray of affected patients by using their chest scans. According to three models, the ResNet-50 is advantageous because of its high service reliability. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.

UTAUT3 model viability among teachers due to technological dynamism during COVID-19

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify the viability of the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology Model 3 (UTAUT3) model among the teachers especially during COVID-19 towards the use of technology. Design/methodology/approach: An extensive primary survey has been conducted through a well-structured tool under UTAUT3 model. The survey is conducted among 450 teachers from various institutions taken for the study. The data was collected from the Northern India. The data analysis will be done through the SmartPLS software with application of structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings: The results are strong for educators and policy makers. It was found that performance expectancy is positively related to the behavioural intentions among teachers. Teachers consider that usage of technology will boost their job and task performance. Practical implications: This study has a very strong implications in the field of education in case or replacement of traditional teaching patterns with modern one during pandemic times. It will be effective if teachers would prioritize their work. There will be more effective teaching and learning system in future. Originality/value: The study validates the constructs of UTAUT3 model in understanding teachers' behaviour and attitude towards technology acceptance. Furthermore, the study invites research from different viewpoint to investigate the role of UTAUT3 model in an individuals' behaviour and attitude towards technology acceptance. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.

A study to assess the effect of Lockdown on lifestyle and behavior of residents of Rewa District

Introduction- Lockdown was implemented for inhibiting and slow down the progression of disease. If cities continue to impose a lockdown to prevent COVID-19 transmission, there are few emergency preparedness plans to transport and provide shelter for these large number of people experiencing homelessness and are starving. The studies have shown that stress increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The stress hormones narrow the blood vessels, and make the blood stickier and thicker and increase the likelihood of blood clotting. Aim and Objective- To assess the effect of lockdown on lifestyle and behavior of residents of Rewa district.Materials and methods- In the present online survey conducted in Rewa city with a well-developed pretested questionnaire used to collect the information from a sample of 1000 people selected using stratified random sampling technique through Google application, Social media (Facebook and WhatsApp). Statistical software SPSS was used for analysis of data. Results-The data collected from 1000 respondents was analyzed and presented in Tables and Figures. In our study according to moderate DASS subscales 219 participants had depression. Conclusions- In the early stage COVID-19 pandemic in Rewa, the results showed that most of the general population had suffered from moderate to severe psychological impact.

COVID 19 and academics-advantages and disadvantages

W.H.O. declares corona virus outbreak a pandemic on 11th March, pandemic means every person on earth is prone to Covid-19. All the activities involving a large public gathering like social, educational, political, economic and many other sectors got affected School, colleges, workplaces had to be closed down temporarily to avoid further spreading of the disease. Educational programs worldwide have been affected by the COVID 19 pandemic, contributing to the almost complete closing of schools, universities, and colleges. To minimize the distribution of Covid19, several governments around the world have agreed to temporarily close educational institutions (lockdown). This is the situation that made society very panic as well as very sensitive towards mankind. The mass effect of Covid -19 can be observed in all the sectors but more poorly affected to the economical and educational sector. In the education system a great change of delivering classes from traditional mode to modern, i.e., online education though there are advantages and disadvantages of its but in the present era this is the most needful requirement of the world. Covid 19 and Academics-Advantages and Disadvantages. Though COVID-19 has created many challenges, various new streams of opportunities are also coming out. Online education has grown over the last few years and has experienced mainstream acceptance. To develop a deeper understanding of degree courses students get to control their learning environment with an online class. New models and materials of learning are always springing up in the market, Due to this various opportunities for furnishing their study. The future of online degree education looks promising and opens up education to a larger section of the population than ever before. © 2021 MEDIC SCIENTIFIC. All right reserved.

A critical review of ojas: An ayurveda immunity booster

Boosting immunity is the new requirement of today's world. So, the factors responsible for immunity are getting the importance. Ojas is one of the key factors responsible for immunity. Ojas connects the mind to the body and consciousness. It nourishes all body tissues and influences the physical, psychological and emotional life of a person directly. So, an attempt is made to study Ojas and OjovahaSrotas in details including its formation, primary seat, types, perception of Ojas according to various acharyas, symptoms of its elevation as well as depletion and how to assess it practically in the patient, ways to increase the Ojasetc. This can help to have a deep insight of the subject and can help in the early detection of the Ojodushtilakshanas. Also, diseases including Ojodushti are given collectively in order to elaborate the practical view of the subject. The further scope of the study includes the pre-clinical and clinical trials of the Ojovrudhhikar drug (drugs increasing Ojas).

A lean approach to healthcare management using multi criteria decision making

Recent challenges induced by the global pandemic COVID-19 have highlighted the critical importance of coping with a sudden surge in demand for front line healthcare services. Motivated by the success of lean implementation in manufacturing systems, this study attempts to apply the lean principles in healthcare delivery environments. The lean approach begins with the identification of seven types of wastes in any production or service system. This study attempts to identify and prioritize the present in hospitals. The study contributes to the existing body of knowledge in two ways. First, we identify the various sources contributing to the seven basic wastes in healthcare delivery. Second, we prioritize the seven types of wastes and the dimensions contributing to these wastes using a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM). This paper used the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process approach, which is a well-accepted tool in MCDM. The study was conducted at select hospitals located in and around Pune city in India. We find that waiting, transportation, motion, and defects are dominant in adopting lean practices among the seven wastes. The findings of this study may guide hospital management in strategic planning in adopting a lean healthcare process. To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to extract, and prioritise lean wastes within the context of the healthcare sector. © 2021, Operational Research Society of India.