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Access to Medicines in Developing Countries and Free Trade Agreements: the Case of the US-DR-CAFTA with Focus on Costa Rica.
Get PDFThe scope of this paper is to provide an analysis of the impact of the IP provisions of a Free Trade Agreement, the US-DR-CAFTA, in the context of access to medicines in developing countries. After presenting a taxonomy of the IP provisions object of research, there is an appraisal of whether they depart from the framework set by TRIPS, to which extent they create a more stringent framework by the inclusion of TRIPS plus provisions, heavily criticised because of their repercussions on the fundamental right to health. It will follow an assessment of whether these provisions have determined a change of the related IP Law provisions in a CAFTA Member State, Costa Rica, and whether access to affordable or indispensable medicines has been affected or not. There will be a conclusion in which some improvement (if any) will be recommended and an overall appraisal of the IP provision of the Country, as result of CAFTA implementation
Technology Transfer and Commercialization – Innovative model for Strengthening Research and Industry Linkages and Valuation through Public Private Partnership in Agriculture
Get PDFInnovative technical knowledge, often packaged as ‘improved technology’ is imperative for agricultural crop productivity enhancement. The effort of technology development is complete, only when it is adopted by the end user, as a product suitable for commercial application. It is thus imperative that the university /research organizations understand the needs of the industry or work in close collaboration with the industry. With a view to enhance University /research-Industry linkages, augmenting ‘market driven research’ and assign ‘value ‘ to innovative research, universities world over have initiated Technology Transfer & Commercialization efforts. Public sector lead university/ research organizations are repositories of rich crop germplasm that could offer unique solutions or provide a platform for modern improved technologies with effective pest and disease resistance traits. Use of such germplasm for developing varieties/hybrids with disease or pest resistance both by public and private sector research efforts is the order of the day. However, these could just be simple exchanges; or simple licensing between public and private sector units involving arbitrarily assigned value and not active partnership. A collaboration that not only enhances the value of the material in use, but also brings forth multitude of benefits across the society is the one that needs to be promulgated in emerging economies, especially while utilizing genetic resources. This paper presents three models of PPP involving unique approaches of valuing improved genetic material and also promoted effective public private partnerships by Brazil, Chile and USA for emulation by other emerging economies
Beyond the US Borders: A Primary Analysis of Extraterritorial Application of US Patent Law
Get PDFIntellectual property right is a critical part of international trade. In the process of international trade, protecting intellectual property rights from extraterritorial infringement is important for the US’ intellectual property rights owner. Yet, all of the recognized intellectual property rights are territorial in nature and may not be protected extraterritorially. Overall, United States courts tend to favour United States plaintiffs over foreign defendants. In this article, the US laws which provide protection to patent rights from exterritorial infringement activities will be introduced and analysed. This analysis will provide valuable information for the international business community
Exploring ethnic foodscape in food desert: the case of Kolasib, Northeast India
Get PDFOf late, ‘Food deserts’,— places where there are no supermarkets for residents in the locality—are triggering policy debates among the policy-makers, academics, activists and media and advocating policy-led interventions to establish accessible new supermarkets. However, in some food deserts, local communities may traditionally follow their own indigenously adapted approaches for consumption of healthy diets. In this paper, we contend that policy-makers sometimes rather than strengthening in-situ opportunities may even rattle low-cost healthy food access pathways by new supermarket mediations. Based on qualitative tools, i.e., focused group discussion (FGD), the current study has delved into the availability of range of ethnic traditional cuisines from the foodscape of Kolasib, generally consumed by the Lushai tribe in Mizoram, Northeast India. Our study proposes new boulevards for conducting research and possible provision of financial impetus to prevailing community-based practices for establishing food banks and leveraging farm-to-market opportunities.
Sesame lignans as promising anti-inflammatory agent: Exploring novel therapeutic avenues with in silico and computational approach
Get PDFInnumerable health-beneficial properties of sesame lignans like sesamol, sesamolin, sesamin and sesaminol make them lucrative agents in the pharmaceutical industry. To specify the mode of action of these phytochemicals, detailed computational physicochemical properties evaluation, and toxicity assessment (using free web servers and databases), as well as binding interactions with physiological inflammatory effectors (such as COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) by means of rigid ligand-receptor docking (using software), have been thoroughly investigated. Interestingly, sesame lignans are conformed to have drug-likeness, indicating their efficacy and suitability like established therapeutics. These bioactive lignans possess drug-like attributes and effectively act as ligands in the present in-silico study. The basic pharmacokinetic profile of these compounds has suggested non-polar solvents or delivery systems for them to enhance their bioavailability in physiological systems. However, all the sesame lignans are toxic to the liver cells with a50 % lethal dose in the range of 500-1500 mg/kg. Toxicity study indicated minimum toxicity of lignans to normal cellular milieu, but noticeable cytotoxic effects against several cancerous cell lines suggesting their anti-carcinogenic properties. Finally, the findings of the molecular docking study have depicted a high affinity of these ligands for target proteins, even better than traditional anti-inflammatory drugs- Indomethacin and Ibuprofen. The molecular interactions have represented sesaminol as the most effective and Sesamol as the least potent ligand for target receptor whereas COX-2 seems to be the most vulnerable target. The docking scores varied widely (-4.7 to -11.0 kcal/mol). The present in-silico approach is expected to provide valuable resources for optimizing bioactive molecules as future-generation therapeutics before pre-clinical and clinical studies
Preparation of multifunctional polyester fabrics using zinc stannate nanoparticles
Get PDFA novel self-cleaning, antibacterial and ultraviolet-resistant polyester fabric loaded with zinc stannate nanoparticles has been prepared. Zinc stannate nanoparticles have been incorporated onto the surface of polyester fabrics by an in situ sonochemical approach. Synthesis of zinc stannate nanoparticles is carried out along with the alkaline hydrolysis of polyester fabric using sodium hydroxide. The produced novel polyester fabrics are characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The self-cleaning property, antibacterial efficiency and ultraviolet protection property of the samples are also studied. The treated polyester fabrics possess significant antibacterial activity and photo-catalytic self-cleaning property by degradation of methylene blue under sunlight irradiation. Also, the coated fabric shows proper UV-blocking activity. Moreover, all properties of the treated fabric with zinc stannate nanoparticle are found superior as compared to the treated sample with zinc oxide nanoparticle.
Response of potato crop to vrikshaayurveda based herbal kunapajala against black scurf and early blight disease
Get PDFPotato is susceptible to diseases like early blight and black scurf caused by Alternaria solani (Ellis and Martin) and Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn, respectively which are known to reduce the quality, yield and price of the tubers. Since ancient times in India, cultivation of plants using fermented liquid organic fertilizers and amendments had been practiced which are well documented in various scriptures and books. One such formulation is the kunapajala mentioned in Vrikshayurveda which was prepared by fermenting animal remains. It was used not only to stimulate plant growth but also protect them from pests and diseases. The potato cultivar Kufri Bahar was used against early blight and black scurf disease under field conditions during the rabi season of 2020-21 at VRC, Pantnagar. The results revealed that 10 per cent solution of KJ2 (50% nettle grass + 50% seasonal local weed based KJ) at 2000 L/ha dose and KJ3 (seasonal weed based KJ) at 1000 L/ha were found effective against black scurf and early blight disease of potato, respectively showing 12.37 and 35.79% reduction disease severity over control, respectively. It was also found that kunapajala treated tubers were statistically at par in terms of germination per cent and tuber yield with the control treatment in which recommended dose of fertiliser was applied suggesting that kunapajala treatment as mentioned above effectively provided the nutrients required by the growing tubers.
Mushroom diversity conservation through tribal women in Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve
Get PDFAchanakmar-Amarkantak biosphere reserve has a very high concentration of tribal population. Some of the major tribal communities found in the region are Gonds and their sub-tribes like Madia, Mudia, Gurva, Agariya, Rajgond, Baigas, Kol, Kanwar, and Pradhans. The aim of the study is to analyse collection pattern and conservation of edible wild mushrooms by tribal women which focuses on the equitable allocation of forest benefits, fair decision-making processes, and sustainable utilization of the forests. The tribal women communities largely collected wild species like Agaricus trisulphuratus (Berk.), Astraeus hygrometricus (Pers.) Morgan, Amanita muscaria (L: Fr.) (Hook.), Geastrum quadrifidum (Pers.), Calvatia craniiformis (Schwein.) Fr., Clitocybe robusta (Fr.) Staude, Clitocybe geotropa (Lucien Quélet.), Coprinus comatus (O. F. Müll.) Pers., Geastrum spp (Pers.), Macrolepiota dolichaula (Berk. and Fr.), Pulveroboletus shoreae (Singh and Singh), Podabrella microcarpa (Sathe & J. T. Daniel), Russula apida (Pers.), Russula crescens (Pers.), Termitomyces robustus (Beeli) R. Heim, Lactarius picinus (A. H. Sm. & Hesler), Volvariella volvacea (Bul.) Singer. A study was carried out on different ranges of Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve. The occurrence of these wild fungi varies with habitat and climatic conditions. These naturally occurring edible wild mushrooms can be collected and may be used as a staple food for human consumption or even marketed like other minor forest products, and have excellent potential to add to the tribal economy. The findings indicated the edible wild mushroom diversity is very rich in Chhattisgarh. In monsoon, the other NTFP are difficult to access from the forest, so mushrooms can give good alternate for their income. The tribal women actively participate in most of the collection, marketing, and conservation processes.
Sequential analysis of erythrocyte aggregation in P. falciparum malaria with and without ASAQ therapy by optical signal and image analysis
Get PDFThe aggregation of erythrocytes is an important mechanism for blood flow through the cardiovascular system. In malaria, this is complicated by infection caused by P. falciparum and is further complicated by the severity of parasitemia. Hence analysis of this micro-mechanism is essential to know the changes in blood not only in diseased conditions but also after artemisinin combination therapy (ASAQ) to alleviate suffering. For analysis purposes, aggregation of erythrocytes was determined by LED laser aggregometer, represented in terms of various parameters related to the changes in laser transmitted intensity. Formed aggregates are further analyzed by imaging and image-processing methods. For this study blood samples from young adults (18 – 40 years old) infected with P. falciparum (n= 80), without any other serious illness, were performed. These samples were selected based on the severity of parasitemia, and were divided into low (LP), medium1 (MP1), medium 2 (MP2), and high (HP) parasitemia. For three days, the selected individuals were treated with artemisinin-based combination therapy ASAQ (Artesunate 4 mg/kg and amodiaquine 10 mg base/ kg once a day). Healthy subjects (n=20) without any history of the disease were selected as a control group. The results, as obtained by various parameters, show a significant elevation of aggregation of erythrocytes (P< 0.05) in P. falciparum malaria with the increase of parasitemia level. There was a decrease in the aggregation after treatment on day four tending towards normal. Thus the current study shows the potential beneficial role of ASAQ on erythrocytes aggregation, which may contribute to reducing the harmful effects on various organs in P. falciparum-infected blood
A Study on the Torrefaction of Rice Husk as an Attempt to Enhance Its Energy Content
Get PDFTorrefaction refers to the thermal and chemical treatment of organic substances (at atmospheric pressure, between 200–300°C, under inert conditions). The objective of this study is to torrefy the rice husk of Ethiopian origin, after a pretreatment with dilute sulfuric acid in order to enhance its energy density. The torrefaction temperature, holding time, and acid concentration investigated in this study were (200, 250, and 300°C), (20, 40, and 60 min) and (0.75, 1.50, and 2.25 g/L), respectively. Box-Behnken experimental Design (BBD) was applied for optimization using Design-Expert ® Version 7 software (Stat-Ease Inc., Minnesota, United States)