Health claim effects on consumer acceptability, emotional responses, and purchase intent of protein bars

Consumers are seeking product’s claims to make their daily food purchase decisions more informed. In this context, health claims can communicate to consumers about nutrient-specific health benefits. The objective of this research was to study the effect of health claims, in textual form, on consumers’ acceptability, emotional responses, and purchase decisions regarding protein bars. For this study, four protein bars were selected by a focus group (N = 6) based on acceptability. A total of N = 80 participants evaluated the pre-selected protein bars in two different tasting sessions [(1) Blind, where no information was provided, and (2) Informed, where health- related information of protein bars was provided]. Participants rated their liking for different sensory attributes (appearance, aroma, taste, texture, sweetness, bitterness, and aftertaste) and overall liking using a 9-point hedonic scale. Check-all-that-apply (CATA) was used to study emotions and 22 terms related to sensory attributes of the protein bar. There was a non-significant increase in the purchase intent for three out of four samples in session 2 but it was found to be high for the sample associated with positive emotions. Overall, this study showed that taste overpowered the health claims (expressed in textual form) on the acceptability. There were, however, slight effects of the health claims on the elicited emotions of consumers towards the protein bars

Does PMJDY Scheme Augmented Financial Inclusion in India? Evidence from Indian States

The study attempts to examine the impact of financial inclusion, promoted through Pradhaan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna (PMJDY) scheme, on the economic performance across the Indian states. Using the index of financial inclusion developed in Sarma (2008), the current study develops a 3-dimensional FII for 25 major Indian states for the year 2011 and 2016 to assess the status of financial inclusion. Cross-sectional and pooled Ordinary Least Square regression techniques are applied to examine the impact of financial inclusion on the economic performance of the Indian states. The slope and interaction dummies are used to incorporate the effect of PMJDY scheme, which takes value 1 for structural change and 0 for the control period. The major findings of the study suggest the PMJDY scheme failed to augment financial inclusion in India in the short-run. Lack of physical infrastructure, human development and effective governance are the major reasons behind the failure of the PMJDY scheme. Hence, structural reforms are warranted in the regulatory framework for better economic outcomes

Does PMJDY Scheme Augment Financial Inclusion in India? Evidence from Indian States

The study attempts to examine the impact of financial inclusion, promoted through Pradhaan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna (PMJDY) scheme, on the economic performance across the Indian states. Using the index of financial inclusion developed in Sarma (2008), the current study develops a 3-dimensional FII for 25 major Indian states for the year 2011 and 2016 to assess the status of financial inclusion. Cross-sectional and pooled Ordinary Least Square regression techniques are applied to examine the impact of financial inclusion on the economic performance of the Indian states. The slope and interaction dummies are used to incorporate the effect of PMJDY scheme, which takes value 1 for structural change and 0 for the control period. The major findings of the study suggest the PMJDY scheme failed to augment financial inclusion in India in the short-run. Lack of physical infrastructure, human development and effective governance are the major reasons behind the failure of the PMJDY scheme. Hence, structural reforms are warranted in the regulatory framework for better economic outcomes

Epidural Interventions in the Management of Chronic Spinal Pain: American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) Comprehensive Evidence-Based Guidelines.

BACKGROUND: Chronic spinal pain is the most prevalent chronic disease with employment of multiple modes of interventional techniques including epidural interventions. Multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies, systematic reviews, and guidelines have been published. The recent review of the utilization patterns and expenditures show that there has been a decline in utilization of epidural injections with decrease in inflation adjusted costs from 2009 to 2018. The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) published guidelines for interventional techniques in 2013, and guidelines for facet joint interventions in 2020. Consequently, these guidelines have been prepared to update previously existing guidelines. OBJECTIVE: To provide evidence-based guidance in performing therapeutic epidural procedures, including caudal, interlaminar in lumbar, cervical, and thoracic spinal regions, transforaminal in lumbar spine, and percutaneous adhesiolysis in the lumbar spine. METHODS: The methodology utilized included the development of objective and key questions with utilization of trustworthy standards. The literature pertaining to all aspects of epidural interventions was viewed with best evidence synthesis of available literature and recommendations were provided. RESULTS: In preparation of the guidelines, extensive literature review was performed. In addition to review of multiple manuscripts in reference to utilization, expenditures, anatomical and pathophysiological considerations, pharmacological and harmful effects of drugs and procedures, for evidence synthesis we have included 47 systematic reviews and 43 RCTs covering all epidural interventions to meet the objectives.The evidence recommendations are as follows: Disc herniation: Based on relevant, high-quality fluoroscopically guided epidural injections, with or without steroids, and results of previous systematic reviews, the evidence is Level I for caudal epidural injections, lumbar interlaminar epidural injections, lumbar transforaminal epidural injections, and cervical interlaminar epidural injections with strong recommendation for long-term effectiveness.The evidence for percutaneous adhesiolysis in managing disc herniation based on one high-quality, placebo-controlled RCT is Level II with moderate to strong recommendation for long-term improvement in patients nonresponsive to conservative management and fluoroscopically guided epidural injections. For thoracic disc herniation, based on one relevant, high-quality RCT of thoracic epidural with fluoroscopic guidance, with or without steroids, the evidence is Level II with moderate to strong recommendation for long-term effectiveness.Spinal stenosis: The evidence based on one high-quality RCT in each category the evidence is Level III to II for fluoroscopically guided caudal epidural injections with moderate to strong recommendation and Level II for fluoroscopically guided lumbar and cervical interlaminar epidural injections with moderate to strong recommendation for long-term effectiveness.The evidence for lumbar transforaminal epidural injections is Level IV to III with moderate recommendation with fluoroscopically guided lumbar transforaminal epidural injections for long-term improvement. The evidence for percutaneous adhesiolysis in lumbar stenosis based on relevant, moderate to high quality RCTs, observational studies, and systematic reviews is Level II with moderate to strong recommendation for long-term improvement after failure of conservative management and fluoroscopically guided epidural injections. Axial discogenic pain: The evidence for axial discogenic pain without facet joint pain or sacroiliac joint pain in the lumbar and cervical spine with fluoroscopically guided caudal, lumbar and cervical interlaminar epidural injections, based on one relevant high quality RCT in each category is Level II with moderate to strong recommendation for long-term improvement, with or without steroids. Post-surgery syndrome: The evidence for lumbar and cervical post-surgery syndrome based on one relevant, high-quality RCT with fluoroscopic guidance for caudal and cervical interlaminar epidural injections, with or without steroids, is Level II with moderate to strong recommendation for long-term improvement. For percutaneous adhesiolysis, based on multiple moderate to high-quality RCTs and systematic reviews, the evidence is Level I with strong recommendation for long-term improvement after failure of conservative management and fluoroscopically guided epidural injections. LIMITATIONS: The limitations of these guidelines include a continued paucity of high-quality studies for some techniques and various conditions including spinal stenosis, post-surgery syndrome, and discogenic pain. CONCLUSIONS: These epidural intervention guidelines including percutaneous adhesiolysis were prepared with a comprehensive review of the literature with methodologic quality assessment and determination of level of evidence with strength of recommendations

Sustainable Organic Polymer Solar Cells Using TiO2 Derived From Automobile Paint Sludge

We demonstrate green synthesis of TiO2 nanopartieles (Nps) derived from automobile paint sludge (APG) and its application in the development of sustainable and solution processable polymer solar cells (PSCs). The APG contains TiO2 > 35% of its weight with several surfactants, organic polymers and similar to 2 to 10 % inorganic matter depending on the type of paints used. The TiO2 is generally present as micro sized particles in the APG which on hydrothermal treatment transform into nano sized particles. These organic matter is thermally extracted by a specially designed reaction vessel, where as the inorganic impurities are removed by repeated washing with dilute acids and bases. The TiO2 Nps are characterized by SEM imaging, EDX analysis, powder XRD, TC/DTA and FTIR, spectroscopy techniques. The TiO2 Nps are re-suspended in methanol for application in PSCs as an efficient electron transport layer. The TiO2 layer was spin coated on bulk hetero junction active layer of low band gap donor polymers P3HT with PCBM as electron acceptor. The performance of the TiO2 Nps is analyzed by fabricating devices in ITO/PEDOT:PSS/active layer/TiO2/Al configuration. The present work has implication for ultra low cost and sustainable PSCs with advantage of recycling of a highly hazardous industrial waste

Review of Ayurvedic Herbal Drugs for Management of Insomnia (Anidra) Along with their Experimental Studies

Ayurveda “Science of life” is a unique combination of science and philosophy that balances the holistic aspects of health i.e. physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Its aim is to promote and preserve physical and mental health and cure of ailments too. In order to lead a good quality of life both physical and mental health of a person should be maintained in good conditions. Now a days, even people know the importance of mental health as due to their busy lifestyle usually they succumb to unhealthy lifestyle which later pose harm to their health. Due to extreme stress in life people are becoming susceptible to various mental and lifestyle health issues like anxiety, depression, HTN, Diabetes and insomnia. Insomnia is defined as a condition where a person is unable to sleep or does not have a sound and sufficient sleep and wakes up usually tired and exhausted. The general causes of insomnia include stressful lifestyle, environmental influence, mental tension, changed food habits or any mental trauma. It is generally of two types: acute insomnia and chronic insomnia. The acute insomnia is referred to a condition one with short duration of few days to few weeks and the second chronic insomnia is which lasts for longer duration of few months to even years. Some of the major symptoms of insomnia include: difficulty in falling asleep at night, sleeplessness, waking up abruptly while sleeping and then not being able to fall asleep again, waking up tired and exhausted, irritability, sometimes wake up with headache, less concentration and low mood throughout the day, over thinking and worry related to sleep. There are various treatments available for this ailment in the form of oral medicines and therapies. In Ayurvedic treatment for insomnia some therapies such as Shirodhara and herbal medicines like Brahmi, Ashwagandha, Sarpgandha are known to produce calming and relaxing effect and result in sound and good sleep. This paper aims to compile and review the classical literature regarding management of Anidra; scientifically reported classical and non-classical sedative herbs; and clinical trials conducted on Anidra

Imaging of tubercular mastitis presenting as recurrent breast nodules and abscesses: a rare case report

Abstract Background Tubercular mastitis could be a rare diagnostic find clinically. It is largely seen in Asian, African and alternative non-developed countries and might occur with coincident primary tuberculosis of the respiratory tract or spine. Primary breast tuberculosis (TB) is even rarer and presents with non-specific clinical signs of continual breast masses, inflammation and sinus tracts. It can be similar to bacterial inflammation/abscess and malignant pathologies on imaging. The key to identification could be a holistic combination of imaging, clinical, biochemical and histopathological analysis. Case presentation We discuss a case of a 41-year-old lady who conferred at the start with tender breast nodules that progressed to continual, multiple abscesses and sinus tract formation. It had been an unusual and unanticipated presentation in breast followed by uncommon events throughout the course of the treatment forcing us to re-evaluate the primary diagnosis. A sequence of multiple diagnostic imaging and histopathological evaluations confirmed the identification of tubercular mastitis. Following prolonged treatment, there was vital reduction within the range and size of nodules and abscesses. Conclusions Such cases imitate bacterial abscess and cancer in their clinical presentation and imaging findings and are imperative to be diagnosed via a myriad of diagnostic tests with histopathology. Such a clinical presentation should warrant a differential of granulomatous inflammation of the breast in cases of non-responders to incision and drainage, prolonged antibiotic medical therapy and prolonged anti-tubercular treatment up to twenty four months after assessment of the individual response