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The OECD countries are in pursuit of the betterment of environmental quality based on their capability of Eco-innovation. This progression might pave their ways in attaining the Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs). Developing a green financing channel for funding is necessary for the sustenance of these projects. However, the potential impact of this project financing mechanism is conditional on the social balance in the economic system. Gender inequality being a major social issue in the OECD countries, it might pose a predicament in attaining the full potential of the green financing of eco-innovations. It is anticipated that the eco-innovation endeavors in the OECD countries are not gender-inclusive, and hence, gender inequality might limit the cognitive aptitude of these endeavors. The present study intends to assess the moderating role of gender inequality on the impact of green financing of eco-innovations for the OECD countries. Using the dynamic elasticity modeling approach, the study finds that the presence of gender inequality dampens the potential of green financing mechanisms to boost eco-innovations. The social imbalance caused by gender inequality also weakens the impacts of the structural and institutional environment to foster innovations. Based on the findings of the study, an SDG-oriented policy framework has been suggested.

The cytosolic tryparedoxin peroxidase (cTXNPx) of Leishmania donovani is a defensive enzyme. Apart from the nonsecretory form, the cTXNPx is released in the spent media of Leishmania cultures and also in the host cell cytosol. The secretory form of the enzyme from the parasite interacts with multiple proteins in the host cell cytosol, the apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) being one of them. Immunoprecipitation with anti-cTXNPx and anti-AIF antibodies suggests a strong interaction between AIF and cTXNPx. Consequent to parasite invasion, the migration of AIF to the nucleus to precipitate apoptosis is inhibited in the presence of recombinant cTXNPx expressed in the host cell. This inhibition of AIF movement results in lesser host cell death, giving an advantage to the parasite for continued survival. Staurosporine-induced AIF migration to the nucleus was also inhibited in the presence of recombinant cTXNPx in the host cell. Therefore, this study demonstrates the ability of a Leishmania parasite enzyme, cTXNPx, to interfere with the migration of the host AIF protein, providing a survival advantage to the Leishmania parasite.

Pathophysiology of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is not fully understood and it has been widely accepted that the parasitic components and host immune response both contribute to the perpetuation of the disease. Host alterations during leishmaniasis is a feebly touched area that needs to be explored more to better understand the VL prognosis and diagnosis, which are vital to reduce mortality and post-infection sequelae. To address this, we performed untargeted metabolomics of Leishmania donovani (Ld) infected, uninfected and treated BALB/c mice’s tissues and biofluids to elucidate the host metabolome changes using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Univariate and multivariate data treatments provided numerous significant differential hits in several tissues like the brain, liver, spleen and bone marrow. Differential modulations were also observed in serum, urine and fecal samples of Ld-infected mice, which could be further targeted for biomarker and diagnostic validations. Several metabolic pathways were found to be upregulated/downregulated in infected (TCA, glycolysis, fatty acids, purine and pyrimidine, etcetera) and treated (arginine, fumaric acid, orotic acid, choline succinate, etcetera) samples. Results also illustrated several metabolites with different pattern of modulations in control, infected and treated samples as well as in different tissues/biofluids; for e.g. glutamic acid identified in the serum samples of infected mice. Identified metabolites include a range of amino acids, saccharides, energy-related molecules, etcetera. Furthermore, potential biomarkers have been identified in various tissues—arginine and fumaric acid in brain, choline in liver, 9-(10) EpOME in spleen and bone marrow, N-acetyl putrescine in bone marrow, etcetera. Among biofluids, glutamic acid in serum, hydrazine and deoxyribose in urine and 3-Methyl-2-oxo pentanoic acid in feces are some of the potential biomarkers identified. These metabolites could be further looked into for their role in disease complexity or as a prognostic marker. The presented profiling approach allowed us to attain a metabolic portrait of the individual tissue/biofluid modulations during VL in the host and represent a valuable system readout for further studies. Our outcomes provide an improved understanding of perturbations of the host metabolome interface during VL, including identification of many possible potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

Since the inception of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Asia Pacific countries are facing difficulties in attaining the SDG objectives, as maintaining the environmental quality has been a challenge for them. In this study, we have revisited the technology policies of these countries, and in doing so, we have tried to address the problem of environmental degradation, while addressing the issues of sustainable economic growth, clean and affordable energy, and quality education. In this pursuit, we have designed two indices for environmental degradation and technological advancement, and then analyzed the association between them following the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. Following IPAT framework, and by using quantile approach, over a period of 1990-2017, we have found that the turnaround points of EKCs rise with the rise in quantiles, i.e. quantiles with low pollutions are having turnaround points within sample range, whereas quantiles with high pollutions are having turnaround points outside sample range. Using Rolling Window Heterogeneous Panel Causality test, unidirectional causality has been found running from technological advancement to environmental degradation. Following the results obtained from the analysis, we have tried to address the objectives of SDG 13, SDG 4, SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 7, and SDG 10.