Current anticoagulants carry a serious risk of bleeding complications. In addition, narrow therapeutic index, drug interactions, immunological reactions, toxicity and high cost to benefit ratio limits the effective use of these drugs in patients with thrombotic conditions.Heparin is the most widely used anticoagulant. We hypothesized that one of the major drawback of heparins, its non-specific interaction with the plasma proteins arises as a result of negative charges. To reduce these non-specific interactions, our laboratory designed sulfated low molecular weight lignin (LMWL) like biomacromolecules, which were found to be direct inhibitors of thrombin and factor Xa, acting through a unique exosite-2 mediated process. To elucidate the structural basis of this mechanism, we studied unsulfated and size fractionated LMWLs. Detailed enzyme inhibition studies with sulfated and unsulfated LMWLs of ferulic and caffeic acid oligomers revealed that sulfation was not absolutely critical for dual inhibition property and smaller oligomers can yield a potent anticoagulant. Mechanistically, unsulfated LMWLs retained exosite-2 mediated inhibition mechanism. A major advantage expected of the unsulfated LMWLs is the possibility that orally bioavailable anticoagulants may become possible.To identify target specific structures within the heterogeneous population of sulfated LMWLs, we prepared sulfated β-O-4-linked oligomer using chemical synthesis. Enzyme inhibition studies revealed that the sulfated β-O-4 LMWL were highly selective direct inhibitors of thrombin. These results show for the first time that specific structural features on LMWL scaffold dictate inhibition specificity. Studies in plasma and blood display highly promising anticoagulant profile for further studies in animals. To further study the LMWL scaffold as macromolecular mimetic of heparin; we investigated their effect in preventing cellular infection by herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1). Based on previous findings on sulfated lignins a size-dependent study on unsulfated LMWLs was done. The unsulfated lignins were found to not only inhibit HSV-1 entry into mammalian cells, but were more potent than sulfated lignins. Interestingly, shorter chains were found to be as active as the longer ones, suggesting that structural features, in addition to carboxylate groups, may be important. It can be expected that unsulfated lignins also antagonize the entry of other enveloped viruses, like HIV-1 and HCV that utilize heparan sulfate to gain entry into cells. The results further present major opportunities for developing lignin-based antiviral formulations for topical use.

The objective of this study is to understand how the integration of digital technology (DT) in the Bangladesh Film industry has been responded to by its production, distribution and exhibition related organisations. Since no research on digital integration has been considered in a developing country context, and specifically within the area of concentrating on the industry rather than the films themselves, this research therefore addresses the gaps within the knowledge field. The Bangladesh Film Industry (BFI) used to be a centre for film production, distribution and exhibition, but this traditional industry has been in decline for decades. In response to the decline, the government started an integration process of DT in 2003, yet eight years after the launch only a fraction of the project has been completed. Apart from its partial adoption in the film production sector, distribution and exhibition have appeared to resist the adoption of new technology. This thesis therefore sets out to explore the causes of partial integration of DT in the film industry in Bangladesh through a study of the workforce, business owners, practitioners, scholars, government officials and executives functioning in and outside the industry. With the mixed method approach and emphasis on qualitative engagement (two case studies and 38 interviews), this thesis explores current attitudes and beliefs and identifies potential barriers to effective integration. In particular this dissertation examines five areas: technology integration, training for workforce development, production, distribution and exhibition capabilities, and argues that the political factor was the most important driver in integrating DT, while knowledge integration, training, and development of digital production, distribution and exhibition compatibility at individual and organisational levels were ignored. Moreover, the greatest concern of losing a job or business within the industry community due to inadequate knowledge, skills and finance is impeding the possibility of full completion of the integration process within the industry. Overall, two important contributions of this research include 1) an exploration of factors that impeded progress of the film industry in responding to the DT and 2) a formulation of some suitable recommendations to overcome the challenges in order to completely realise the integration of DT within the Bangladesh Film Industry. However, further research is recommended to investigate whether completion of the integration process will save the industry from decline or not.