INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNICATION ON FACE BOOK: EXPLORING INTERACTION PATTERNS OF PERSONALITY AND ADULT ATTACHMENT STYLES

The study is intended to explore individuals’ involvementand interaction on Facebook as an outcome of personality dimensions,and attachment styles. Participants (N=383) Facebook users included 60.3% females with an age range of 18-27 years (means = 22.47±2.91). Results suggested that extraversion (β=.12, p<.05) and neuroticism (β=.15, p<.05) predicted Facebook usage (intensity), and effects of neuroticism is moderated by secure attachment style (β interaction= - .23, p<.01). Social interaction on Facebook was predicted by extraversion (β=.14, p<.05) and the effects was moderated by secure attachment style (β interaction= -.16, p<.05). It is concluded that computer mediated communication on social networking sites is a complex phenomenon and shall be studied as a consequence of interaction between personal and environmental factors

Causes of smoking in Pakistan: an analysis of social factors

OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors contributing to the initiation and propagation of smoking in visitors to a major tertiary health center in Karachi, Pakistan. METHODS: Seven major contributing factors to the initiation and propagation of smoking were presented to consenting study participants (n=170) in a questionnaire. Participants were then requested to use their experience and opinion to rate each of the given factors on a scale of 1 to 5 regarding its importance as a causative factor in the initiation and propagation of smoking. Results were analyzed using SPSSv16.0. RESULTS: Preliminary analysis revealed occupational stress relief as the most important factor contributing to smoking with a mean score of 3.25 +/- 1.32. Peer pressure ranked second (Score 3.20 +/- 1.42). Domestic stress relief ranked third with a score of 3.19 +/- 1.32. Smokers gave lower rating than non-smokers to most factors. Younger participants gave higher ratings to peer pressure, and most participants were found to have begun smoking at a young age. CONCLUSIONS: Even though the addictive power of nicotine or stress may appear as a factor in middle aged smokers, the root of their habit lies in the initiation due to peer pressure

Impact of Retail Strategy, Location and Type of Business on Sales: A Case Study of Peace & Love Festival Borlänge

Abstract   Purpose - This study primarily examines how local retail businesses strategically take advantage of an event like the Peace and Love Festival. The financial effects of the event on these businesses were studied with a focus on whether sales increase or decrease during the Festival. The influence of three important factors was examined; business strategy, location of business and type of business on local businesses’ sales during festivals. The study assessed the impact of specific location and the effect of these festivals on different types of businesses. It uncovers the influence of such events on businesses, particularly on their sales. Overall, such festivals have positive financial effects on all local business, except a few, which are further explored in the study

A logic-based diagram of signalling pathways central to macrophage activation.

BACKGROUND: The complex yet flexible cellular response to pathogens is orchestrated by the interaction of multiple signalling and metabolic pathways. The molecular regulation of this response has been studied in great detail but comprehensive and unambiguous diagrams describing these events are generally unavailable. Four key signalling cascades triggered early-on in the innate immune response are the toll-like receptor, interferon, NF-kappaB and apoptotic pathways, which co-operate to defend cells against a given pathogen. However, these pathways are commonly viewed as separate entities rather than an integrated network of molecular interactions. RESULTS: Here we describe the construction of a logically represented pathway diagram which attempts to integrate these four pathways central to innate immunity using a modified version of the Edinburgh Pathway Notation. The pathway map is available in a number of electronic formats and editing is supported by yEd graph editor software. CONCLUSION: The map presents a powerful visual aid for interpreting the available pathway interaction knowledge and underscores the valuable contribution well constructed pathway diagrams make to communicating large amounts of molecular interaction data. Furthermore, we discuss issues with the limitations and scalability of pathways presented in this fashion, explore options for automated layout of large pathway networks and demonstrate how such maps can aid the interpretation of functional studies

THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES OF CAPSAICIN: A MEDICINALLY IMPORTANT BIO-ACTIVE CONSTITUENT OF CHILLI PEPPER

Plants are the source of numerous pharmaceutically important compounds that have been employed to cure various human ailments since ancient times. With the assistance of modern chemistry and materials science, such pharmaceutically important compounds have been identified and isolated to produce new drugs. Alkaloids are one of the most significant classes of naturally occurring secondary-metabolites, which are synthesized and widely distributed in various parts of plants. They regulate various metabolic activities and induce physiological responses in the human body. Capsaicin is a naturally occurring alkaloid found in many species of peppers and is attributed to their spicy nature and pungent flavor. This alkaloid is a member of the Capsaicinoids group, which includes capsaicin, homocapsaicin, homodihydrocapsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and nordihydrocapsaicin. Capsaicin has a wide range of therapeutic potential against various human ailments. In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of the capsaicin molecule as well as an examination of its medicinal properties in a variety of human disorders, including pain, various types of cancer, ulcers, diabetes, obesity, inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases

Comparative Evaluation of Biomarkers of Inflammation Among Indian Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Consuming Vegetarian vs. Non-vegetarian Diet

Background: Sub-inflammation and insulin resistance characterize women with PCOS. Data on dietary modulation of inflammation among PCOS women is scant, particularly from Indian subcontinent. The present study aimed to assess the effect of plant based vs. animal origin diets on serum markers of inflammation (primary outcome measure).Methods: This observational case-control study compared age and BMI matched PCOS and apparently healthy women from two populations following different dietary practices. The vegetarian women from New-Delhi (n = 82 PCOS and n = 179 healthy) and non-vegetarian women from Srinagar (n = 62 PCOS and n = 141 healthy) formed the groups. Using a uniform methodology, detailed clinical, biochemical, hormonal, and inflammatory marker assessment was undertaken.Results: The mean age of the overall cohort was 26.23 ± 4.59 years with a mean BMI of 24.39 ± 3.72 kg/m2. Overall pro-inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, hs-CRP and serum resistin) were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) and anti-inflammatory markers (IL-10 and adiponectin) were lower among women with PCOS than healthy subjects. On comparing vegetarian women with non-vegetarians, higher daily calorie intake (1895.46 ± 258.19 vs. 1860.13 ± 323.96 Kcal) with a higher protein and fat and lower carbohydrate intake was recorded in the latter, although the percent energy derived from carbohydrates was higher among vegetarians. Clinical and biochemical parameters were comparable among the groups except mFG score, total serum testosterone and serum lipid levels which were higher among non-vegetarian women as compared to their vegetarian counterparts from both categories (PCOS and healthy). Interestingly, vegetarian women with PCOS and healthy women had higher serum pro-inflammatory and lower anti-inflammatory markers compared to their non-vegetarian counterparts.Conclusion: Women with PCOS consuming Indian vegetarian diet have higher pro-inflammatory and lower anti-inflammatory marker levels than their age and BMI matched healthy non-vegetarian counterparts. This interesting observation can be attributed to the dietary composition, among other factors and needs confirmation from well-designed randomized studies on a larger cohort

Personality Traits and Entrepreneurial Intentions: Financial Risk-Taking as Mediator

The interaction between environment and individual personality determines career. Over the past decades, the role of personality traits in explaining entrepreneurship cannot get much attention of researchers. To fill this gap, this study aims to investigate the effect of personality traits (extraversion, openness to experience, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and agreeableness) on the entrepreneurial intentions (EI) along with the mediating role of financial risk taking (FRT). Sample size consists of 500 students of business and management of different universities of Pakistan, out of which 466 useable questionnaires were collected and analyzed. The results of the study are consistent with conventional wisdom as explored by past studies. In line with past studies and proposed hypothesis, we found that both extraversion and openness to experience have a positive association with FRT, whereas neuroticism, conscientiousness, and agreeableness have negative association with FRT. The results also revealed that there is positive association between FRT and EI; however, FRT did not mediate the relationship between agreeableness and EI

Fingolimod plays role in attenuation of myocardial injury related to experimental model of cardiac arrest and extracorporeal life support resuscitation

Background: Sudden cardiac arrest is a major global health concern, and survival of patients with ischemia-reperfusion injury is a leading cause of myocardial dysfunction. The mechanism of this phenomenon is not well understood because of the complex pathophysiological nature of the disease. Aim of the study was to investigate the cardioprotective role of fingolimod in an in vivo model of cardiac arrest and resuscitation.Methods: In this study, an in vivo rat model of cardiac arrest using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation resuscitation monitored by invasive hemodynamic measurement was developed. At the beginning of extracorporeal life support (ECLS), animals were randomly treated with fingolimod (Group A, n = 30) or saline (Group B, n = 30). Half of the animals in each group (Group A1 and B1, n = 15 each) were sacrificed after 1 h, and the remaining animals (Group A2 and B2) after 24 h of reperfusion. Blood and myocardial tissues were collected for analysis of cardiac features, inflammatory biomarkers, and cell signaling pathways.Results: Treatment with fingolimod resulted in activation of survival pathways resulting into reduced inflammation, myocardial oxidative stress and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. This led to significant improvement in systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle and improved contractility index.Conclusions: Sphingosine1phosphate receptor activation with fingolimod improved cardiac function after cardiac arrest supported with ECLS. Present study findings strongly support a cardioprotective role of fingolimod through sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor activation during reperfusion after circulatory arrest

UCP2 Regulates the Glucagon Response to Fasting and Starvation

Glucagon is important for maintaining euglycemia during fasting/starvation, and abnormal glucagon secretion is associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes; however, the mechanisms of hypoglycemia-induced glucagon secretion are poorly understood. We previously demonstrated that global deletion of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2−/−) in mice impaired glucagon secretion from isolated islets. Therefore, UCP2 may contribute to the regulation of hypoglycemia-induced glucagon secretion, which is supported by our current finding that UCP2 expression is increased in nutrient-deprived murine and human islets. Further to this, we created α-cell–specific UCP2 knockout (UCP2AKO) mice, which we used to demonstrate that blood glucose recovery in response to hypoglycemia is impaired owing to attenuated glucagon secretion. UCP2-deleted α-cells have higher levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to enhanced mitochondrial coupling, which translated into defective stimulus/secretion coupling. The effects of UCP2 deletion were mimicked by the UCP2 inhibitor genipin on both murine and human islets and also by application of exogenous ROS, confirming that changes in oxidative status and electrical activity directly reduce glucagon secretion. Therefore, α-cell UCP2 deletion perturbs the fasting/hypoglycemic glucagon response and shows that UCP2 is necessary for normal α-cell glucose sensing and the maintenance of euglycemia