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PurposeThis study investigates the impact of Industry 4.0 technologies on green innovation performance. In this relationship, the mediating role of green innovation behavior is also studied. Moreover, open innovation is tested as a mediator between Industry 4.0 technologies and green innovation behavior.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative research method is adopted in which a structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 217 manufacturing firms of Malaysia. After collecting data, the partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique is applied to analyze data and test the hypothesis of study.FindingsIt is found that Industry 4.0 positively impacts open innovation which leads to green innovation behavior. Also, the former lays positive impact on green innovation behavior which leads to improve green innovation performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors conclude that Industry 4.0 technologies can play an important role to improve green innovation performance of Malaysian manufacturing firms by managing open innovation for green innovation behavior which further improves the green innovation performance. In this context, it is recommended that strategists and policymakers should undertake the role of open innovation and Industry 4.0 technologies to promote environment-friendly innovations and to promote the green behavior in companies. The authors suggest hereby that firms should be given incentives to adopt and utilize Industry 4.0 technologies and collaborative innovation interactions – as they foster a climate for sustainable green innovations (which is also a key component to achieve competitive advantage) and a growing concern nowadays.Practical implicationsFirst of all the research contributes to achieving the broader of United Nations to promote sustainable innovation through green innovations. Moreover, the companies can also incorporate the findings and insights of this study while devising their policies to foster green innovations.Originality/valueThis research has done the novel contribution by bridging the gap between open innovation approach and sustainability fields while promoting green innovations in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). These two research fields are rarely studied in previous studies by focusing open innovation particularly. Hence, the authors suggest researchers to undertake these fields to further enhance the level of scholarship between innovation management and sustainability. Also, the authors recommend considering technological orientation and technological absorptive capacity of firms to improve green innovations. The current study has investigated the SMEs perspective in general irrespective to their sectoral differences, thus, for future researchers the authors suggest investigating the sector-wise comparison, i.e. electrical and electronics sector, chemical sector, etc.; or service and manufacturing sector differences.

This study aims to analyze the impact of ICT, renewable energy consumption, and financial development on CO 2 emissions in selected developing countries of East and South Asia. Using panel data spanning 1985–2020, Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimator is used to analyze the short-run and long-run effects. Results suggest that ICT and financial development positively contribute to the degradation of the environment in the long run, while their impact on CO 2 emissions is insignificant in the short run. On the other hand, renewable energy consumption affects environmental quality positively in both the long run and short run. It is also examined that economic growth affects CO 2 emissions positively but the squared economic growth reduces CO 2 emissions which validates inverted U-shaped EKC hypothesis. The empirical findings of the Granger Causality test suggest unidirectional causality from ICT and financial development to CO 2 emissions, while a bi-directional relationship is found among renewable energy and CO 2 emissions. Results imply that governments in these countries need to invest in renewable energy to control environmental degradation.

Sonic Hedgehog signaling is critical for breast morphogenesis and cancer. The present study was conducted to explore the influence of SHH/GLI1 axis on epithelial mesenchymal transition and invasion in breast cancer cells. SHH/GLI1 positive samples demonstrated high expression of Snail and Vimentin with relatively low expression of E-cadherin. Overexpression of Vimentin and Snail in SHH/GLI1 positive patients was also associated with poor overall survival. Interestingly, GANT61 (GLI1 inhibitor) exposure significantly reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis at 10 µM. Suppression of Hedgehog pathway either by CRISPR mediated SHH knock out or GANT61 altered regulation of EMT markers in breast cancer cells. Moreover, in-activation of SHH/GLI1 axis also significantly restricted cell migration and invasiveness. These findings suggest that targeting SHH/GLI1 axis alters expression of EMT markers and abrogates neoplastic invasion in breast cancer cells.

Despite the crucial role of investment in energy under public-private partnership (I.E.P.P.P.) in abating environmental pollution and reducing energy poverty (E.P.), the existing literature offers less information about the nexus between I.E.P.P.P. and E.P. In order to identify the E.P. gap based on accessibility, affordability, and availability dimensions, this study investigates the factors influencing E.P., and examines the impact of I.E.P.P.P., globalisation (G.L.O.), output (G.D.P.), risk, technological innovation (T.I.) and renewable energy consumption (R.E.C.) on E.P. in China during the period of 1990 to 2019. The causal relationship between E.P. with its determinants is also examined. Utilising fully modified ordinary least squares (F.M.O.L.S.) econometric approach, we find that investment in energy with a public-private partnership, T.I., and gross domestic product (G.D.P.) bridge the gap for E.P., whereas R.E.C., composite risk index (C.R.I.), and G.L.O. increase the E.P. gap in China. In addition, frequency Domain Causality test reveals that unidirectional causation from I.E.P.P.P., G.D.P., T.I., G.L.O., risk, and R.E.C. to E.P. in the short run to long run.

Fibroblast (FGFs) and insulin (IGF) growth factor pathways are among 10 most recurrently altered genomic pathways in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the prognostic and therapeutic relevance of FGF and IGF pathways in PDAC is largely unknown. We investigated the relationship between fibroblast and insulin pathway gene expression and clinicopathological features in three independent transcriptomic cohorts of 532 PDAC patients. Furthermore, we have examined the coexpressed genes specific to the prognostic marker identified from these cohorts. Statistical tests including Fisher-exact\\Chi-square, Kaplan-Meier, Pearson Correlation and cox regression analyses were performed. Additionally, pathway analysis of gene-specific co-expressed genes was also performed. The dysregulation of six genes including FGF9, FGF14, FGFR1, FGFR4, IGF2BP2 and IGF2BP3 were significantly associated with different clinical characteristics (including grade, stage, recurrence and nodes) in PDAC cohorts. 11 genes (including FGF9, FGF13, FGF14, FGF17, FGFR1, FGFRL1, FGFBP3, IGFBP3, IGF2BP2, IGF2BP3 and IGFBPL1) showed association with overall survival in different PDAC cohorts. Interestingly, overexpression of FGF14 was found associated with better overall survival (OS) in all three cohorts. Of note, multivariate analysis also revealed FGF14 as an independent prognostic marker for better OS in all three cohorts. Furthermore, FMN2 and PGR were among the top genes that correlated with FGF14 in all 3 cohorts. Of note, overexpression of FMN2 and PGR was found significantly associated with good overall survival in PDAC patients, suggesting FMN2 and PGR can also act as potential markers for the prediction of prognosis in PDAC patients. FGF14 may define a distinct subset of PDAC patients with better prognosis. Moreover, FGF14-based sub-classification of PDAC suggests that FMN2 and PGR can be employed as good prognostic markers in PDAC and this classification may lead to new therapeutic approaches.

Recently, an interest has surged in utilizing indigenous medicinal plants to treat infectious illnesses and extract bioactive substances, highlighting the need to analyze medicinal plants for phytochemicals and bioactivities. The present study was aimed to evaluate the impact of different solvent systems (aqueous, ethanol, and methanol) used for extraction on total phenolics, total flavonoids, antioxidant, and antibacterial activity of three medicinal plants of Azad Kashmir (Achillea millefolium, Bergenia ciliata, and Aloe vera). High phenolic content was found in methanol extracts of B. ciliata (27.48 ± 0.58 mg GAE/g dry weight), A. vera (25.61 ± 0.33 mg GAE/g dry weight), and A. millefolium (24.25 ± 0.67 mg GAE/g dry weight). High flavonoid content was obtained in the ethanol extract of A. millefolium (27.13 ± 0.64 mg QE/g dry weight), methanol extract of B. ciliata (17.44 ± 0.44 ± 0.44 mg QE/g dry weight), and the methanol extract of A. vera (14.68 ± 0.67 mg QE/g dry weight). Strong 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (DPPH) was obtained with a methanol extract of B. ciliata (IC50 = 60.27 ± 0.20 µg/mL). With a zone of inhibition and a minimum inhibitory concentration ranging from 10.00 ± 0.66 to 24.67 ± 1.21 mm and 78 to 625 µg/mL, respectively, all of the studied plants demonstrated notable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. A. vera showed greater antibacterial activity as compared to other plants under study while methanolic extract showed greater antibacterial activity than ethanolic and aqueous extract. The findings of this research support the use of these medicinal plants to treat a variety of diseases.

This study estimates the relationship of institutional (judicial and political) and monetary (petty and grand) dimensions of corruption with six different types of innovations. Using cross country firm level data from World Bank Enterprise Survey for 16 developing and emerging economies, the study reveals that, in most of the cases, monetary dimensions of corruption grease the wheels of the innovations involving interactions with public offices and have an insignificant or negative association in opposite cases. Results show that corruption is disproportionately associated with the innovative activities of firms operating in different industrial groups devised as per Castellacci (Research Policy, 37(6), 978–994, 2008). Interestingly, both monetary dimensions of corruption are positively correlated with major innovation indicators in SMEs. Large firms are more the victims of the monetary corruption. Furthermore, innovation in the services sector is more harmed by petty corruption than is innovation in the manufacturing sector. Services firms seem to be taking advantage of grand corruption. Judicial corruption is found to be positively associated with most of the innovation indicators, highlighting the loopholes in the judicial system. Moreover, political corruption benefits both SMEs and large firms in most of their innovative activities. In the end, the study provides important policy insights from the analysis.

PurposeThis study investigates the impact of blockchain technology on green supply chain practices with the aim to promote pro-environmental settings in supply chains of manufacturing firms. Moreover, mediating role of environmental orientation is examined between blockchain technology and green supply chain practices. Also, moderating role of technological orientation in this connection is undertaken.Design/methodology/approachThe authors have applied a quantitative methodology in which a questionnaire was developed from literature. After that, data are collected from manufacturing firms of Malaysia. The data collected are analysed by using PLS-SEM in which multiple regression and moderation are applied.FindingsThe results of this study confirm the positive impact of blockchain on green supply chain practices. Also, the mediating role of environmental orientation is revealed in this relationship. Moreover, technological orientation is confirmed as a moderator which strengthens the relationship between blockchain technology and green supply chain practices.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has collected data from manufacturing firms of Malaysia. However, the authors have not undertaken service sector firms. Thus, they recommend future researchers to consider service sector firms in this context. Moreover, they have taken SMEs for this study and have neglected large firms. Therefore, in future, large firms could be taken to test the current study's perspective in them. Furthermore, this study suggests to the policymaker and managers, especially of manufacturing concerns, to infuse Industry 4.0 technologies such as blockchain technology because of its manifold benefits.Practical implicationsThis study suggests to the policymaker and managers, especially of manufacturing concerns, to infuse Industry 4.0 technologies such as blockchain technology because of its manifold benefits. First, it will enhance the integration across the streams of the supply chain; secondly, it will improve the demand and supply planning which will eliminate the extra production and will enable firms to adopt just-in-time production by saving various costs associated otherwise. Importantly, these processes are against the pro-environmental behaviour which is pivotal to achieve green supply chain practices.Originality/valueThis study contributes by joining the technological perspective of Industry 4.0 technologies and sustainability perspective of green supply chain in manufacturing concerns. In addition, the related concepts of technological orientation and environmental orientation are also undertaken to further adjoin the former fields. As a practical contribution, this study will, first, enhance the integration across the streams of supply chain; secondly it will improve the demand and supply planning which will eliminates the extra production and will enable firms to adopt just-in-time production by saving various costs associated otherwise. It is also suggested to instil pro-environmental behaviour or environmental orientation in the employees at all levels of firm. Moreover, technological orientation should also be improved by emphasizing on the importance of technology for environmentally friendly and green supply chain practices.

The world’s energy demand is steadily increasing where it has now become difficult for conventional hydrocarbon reservoir to meet levels of demand. Therefore, oil and gas companies are seeking novel ways to exploit and unlock the potential of unconventional resources. These resources include tight gas reservoirs, tight sandstone oil, oil and gas shales reservoirs, and high pressure high temperature (HPHT) wells. Drilling of HPHT wells and shale reservoirs has become more widespread in the global petroleum and natural gas industry. There is a current need to extend robust techniques beyond costly drilling and completion jobs, with the potential for exponential expansion. Drilling fluids and their additives are being customized in order to cater for HPHT well drilling issues. Certain conventional additives, e.g., filtrate loss additives, viscosifier additives, shale inhibitor, and shale stabilizer additives are not suitable in the HPHT environment, where they are consequently inappropriate for shale drilling. A better understanding of the selection of drilling fluids and additives for hydrocarbon water-sensitive reservoirs within HPHT environments can be achieved by identifying the challenges in conventional drilling fluids technology and their replacement with eco-friendly, cheaper, and multi-functional valuable products. In this regard, several laboratory-scale literatures have reported that nanomaterial has improved the properties of drilling fluids in the HPHT environment. This review critically evaluates nanomaterial utilization for improvement of rheological properties, filtrate loss, viscosity, and clay- and shale-inhibition at increasing temperature and pressures during the exploitation of hydrocarbons. The performance and potential of nanomaterials, which influence the nature of drilling fluid and its multi-benefits, is rarely reviewed in technical literature of water-based drilling fluid systems. Moreover, this review presented case studies of two HPHT fields and one HPHT basin, and compared their drilling fluid program for optimum selection of drilling fluid in HPHT environment.

This study aims to analyze the asymmetric relation between renewable energy consumption and CO2 emissions in China using the STIRPAT-Kaya-EKC framework. To delve into the asymmetric effect of renewable energy consumption on the environment, the non-linear ARDL model is used. The results of this study confirm the asymmetric impact of renewable energy on the environment in the long run as well as in the short run. However, the negative shocks to renewable energy have a greater detrimental influence on the environment than the benign effect due to the positive shock to renewable energy. Population growth affects the environment in the short run, whereas technology only affects environment quality in the long run. Moreover, the study supports the EKC theory in China. This research emphasizes that the administration can improve the economy’s lifespan by allocating substantial funds to establish legislation to maintain a clean environment by subsidizing renewable energy infrastructure and research and innovations for low-carbon projects.