Characterization of nutraceuticals in bael powder prepared from fruits harvested at different developmental stages

724-730Bael [Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa], is well known in Indian traditional medical system for its multipurpose use in treatment of various diseases. Fresh ripe fruits are used in various types of shakes and sharbats but bael fruits are mainly used into its processed form like nectar or squash, jelly, candy and murabba. Bael powder is another form of product which has very high pharmaceutical value, long storability and is the pure concentrated form of fruit pulp. The aim of this study is to measure the nutraceutical values in bael powder (dry weight basis) prepared from fruit of CISH B-1 harvested at various stages of growth and development [180–335 days after fruit set (DAFS)] by using a simple HPLC technique and atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The antioxidants value (in terms of FRAP) ranges from 13.45 mmol/g at 180 DAFS (month of November) to 22.6 mmol/g at 335 DAFS (month of April). Maximum polyphenols content (5.99%) was observed at 305 and 335 DAFS (months of March and April). The antioxidants and polyphenols were enhanced significantly with the maturity of the fruits. Marmelosin and psoralen concentrations were highest at 215 DAFS and were found as 737 and 511 µg/g, respectively. Thereafter, both compounds declined significantly in mature fruit powder. Mineral contents in powder also varied with maturity stages. From this study, it may be concluded that powder prepared from immature fruits collected at early stages of development (November-January; 180–245 DAFS), possessed significantly higher amount of potassium, iron, marmelosin, psoralen and tannic acid, whereas, mature fruit powder (harvested during March-April; 305-335 DAFS) contains significantly higher content of zinc, copper, polyphenols and antioxidants

Exploring New Physics in the C7-C7' plane

The Wilson coefficient C7 governing the radiative electromagnetic decays of B meson has been calculated to a very high accuracy in the Standard Model, but experimental bounds on either the magnitude or the sign of C7 are often model-dependent. In the present paper, we attempt at constraining both the magnitude and sign of C7 using a systematic approach. We consider already measured observables like the branching ratios of B \rightarrow Xs mu+ mu- and B \rightarrow Xs gamma, the isospin and CP asymmetries in B \rightarrow K* gamma, as well as AFB and FL in B \rightarrow K*l+l-. We also discuss the transverse observable AT2 which, once measured, may help to disentangle some of the scenarios considered. We explore the constraints on C7, C9, C10 as well as their chirality-flipped counterparts. Within our framework, we find that we need to extend the constraints up to 1.6 sigma to allow for the "flipped-sign solution" of C7. The SM solution for C7 exhibits a very mild tension if New Physics is allowed in dipole operators only. We provide semi-numerical expressions for all these observables as functions of the relevant Wilson coefficients at the low scale.Comment: 54 pages, 16 figures, 15 tables. Normalization factor introduced for the integrated AFB and FL in Sec.2.5 (Eq.2.35-2.38). Conclusions unchanged. Not updated in JHE

Polycation-π Interactions Are a Driving Force for Molecular Recognition by an Intrinsically Disordered Oncoprotein Family

Molecular recognition by intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) commonly involves specific localized contacts and target-induced disorder to order transitions. However, some IDPs remain disordered in the bound state, a phenomenon coined "fuzziness", often characterized by IDP polyvalency, sequence-insensitivity and a dynamic ensemble of disordered bound-state conformations. Besides the above general features, specific biophysical models for fuzzy interactions are mostly lacking. The transcriptional activation domain of the Ewing's Sarcoma oncoprotein family (EAD) is an IDP that exhibits many features of fuzziness, with multiple EAD aromatic side chains driving molecular recognition. Considering the prevalent role of cation-π interactions at various protein-protein interfaces, we hypothesized that EAD-target binding involves polycation- π contacts between a disordered EAD and basic residues on the target. Herein we evaluated the polycation-π hypothesis via functional and theoretical interrogation of EAD variants. The experimental effects of a range of EAD sequence variations, including aromatic number, aromatic density and charge perturbations, all support the cation-π model. Moreover, the activity trends observed are well captured by a coarse-grained EAD chain model and a corresponding analytical model based on interaction between EAD aromatics and surface cations of a generic globular target. EAD-target binding, in the context of pathological Ewing's Sarcoma oncoproteins, is thus seen to be driven by a balance between EAD conformational entropy and favorable EAD-target cation-π contacts. Such a highly versatile mode of molecular recognition offers a general conceptual framework for promiscuous target recognition by polyvalent IDPs. © 2013 Song et al

An acceptance model for the adoption of smart glasses technology by healthcare professionals

In the recent years, there has been an increase in the interest from different industries in the adoption of smart wearable devices in the light of their inevitable ubiquity. One type of these devices is the Augmented Reality Smart Glasses (ARSGs), which can have great effect in different areas through providing timely information to users. One of the industries that can significantly reap the benefits of this technology is healthcare. However, as healthcare is a very multi-dimensional industry, there is a need for a multifaceted look into the adoption and acceptance of smart glasses by health professionals. This study tends to examine the acceptance of smart glasses by healthcare professionals based on Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as there is an imperative for empirical studies on user perceptions, attitudes, and intentions. For this purpose, five external factors are extracted from the literature and field study, being integration with information systems, external effects, hands-free feature, technological compatibility, and documentation. The model is examined by using PLS-SEM methodology. This study found documentation to have the strongest impact on intention due to the substitution of paperwork by mobile devices and facilitation of continuous documentation

Quality of aonla candy and segments-in-syrup prepared from steep preserved fruits in water

119-122Aonla products are commercially prepared either from fresh fruits or from fruits stored in water/salt solution. In the present investigation aonla fruits were stored in water up to 21 days at room temperature and fruits were withdrawn at 7 days interval for the preparation of products namely candy and segments-in-syrup. The fruits and products were assessed for ascorbic acid and polyphenol contents besides sensory evaluation of the products. A gradual decrease in ascorbic acid (306 to 75 mg/100 g) and polyphenols (2.64 to 0.90%) in fruits was noticed during 21 days of storage. Almost 75% of ascorbic acid and 65% of polyphenols were lost during storage of fruits in water up to 21 days. The loss was also reflected in the products prepared from the stored fruits. The retention of ascorbic acid in candy and segments-in-syrup was around 30%, while that of polyphenols was around 60-70% when prepared from 21 days of fruit storage as compared to those prepared from fresh fruits. The organoleptic quality of the prepared products decreased with the increase in the storage period of fruits. Highly acceptable products could be prepared from fresh fruits and fruits stored in water up to 7 days without much loss in the contents of ascorbic acid and polyphenols. However, the products prepared from the fruits after 21 days of storage were poor in quality and unacceptable organoleptically. It could be concluded from the study that acceptable nutritious value added products could be prepared from fresh as well as fruits stored up to 7 days in water

Wearable technology: What explains continuance intention in smartwatches?

Nascimento, B., Oliveira, T., & Tam, C. (2018). Wearable technology: What explains continuance intention in smartwatches? Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 43, 157-169. DOI: 10.1016/j.jretconser.2018.03.017Smartwatch is a recent and significant development in the domain of wearable technology. We study continuance intention and its determinants, using a combination of the expectation-confirmation model (ECM) with habit, perceived usability, and perceived enjoyment, to explain the continuance intention of smartwatches. Based on a sample of 574 individuals collected from the USA, we show that relationships of ECM enhance the continuance intention, such as confirmation, perceived usefulness, and satisfaction, and also the role of habit and perceived usability. Additionally, we find that habit was the most important feature to explain the continuance intention of smartwatches. The paper ends with a discussion of the study's limitations and implications.authorsversionpublishe

Relationships of physical job tasks and living conditions with occupational injuries in coal miners

International audienceThis study assessed the relationships of job tasks and living conditions with occupational injuries among coal miners. The sample included randomly selected 516 underground workers. They completed a standardized self-administred questionnaire. The data were analyzed via logistic regression method. The rate of injuries in the past two years was 29.8%. The job tasks with significant crude relative risks were: power hammer, vibrating hand tools, pneumatic tools, bent trunk, awkward work posture, heat, standing about and walking, job tasks for trunk and upper/lower limbs, pain caused by work, and muscular tiredness. Logistic model shows a strong relationship between the number of job tasks (JT) and injuries (adjusted ORs vs. JT 0-1: 2.21, 95%CI 1.27-3.86 for JT 2-6 and 3.82, 2.14-6.82 for JT>or=7), and significant ORs>or=1.71 for face work, not-good-health-status, and psychotropic drug use. Musculoskeletal disorders and certain personality traits were also significant in univariate analysis. Therefore job tasks and living conditions strongly increase the injuries, and occupational physicians could help workers to find remedial measures