Plant Natural Products: A Promising Source of Hyaluronidase Enzyme Inhibitors

Hyaluronidase enzyme degrades hyaluronan, the primary component of the extracellular matrix found in connective tissues animals and on the surface of certain pathogenic bacteria. The degradation of hyaluronan is linked to a wide range of physiological and pathological process. Inhibiting the hyaluronidase enzyme is thus significant as an approach to treat a variety of diseases and health conditions such as anti-fertility, anti-tumor, antimicrobial, and anti-venom/toxin agents. HAase inhibitors of different chemical types have been identified include both synthetic compounds and constituents obtained from naturally sources. Plant natural products as HAase inhibitors are unique due to their structural features and diversity. Medicinal plants have historically been used as contraceptives, antidote for snakebites and to promote wound healing. In recent years, small molecules, particularly plant natural products (alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenol and flavonoids, triterpenes and steroids) possessing potent HAase have been discovered. A number of plant species from various families, which have folk medicinal claims for these ailments (related to hyaluronan disturbances) were scientifically proven for their potential to block HAase enzymes

Comparing the Techniques for Management of Closed Tibial Fractures

Objective: The objective is to compare the radiological outcome of closed interlock intramedullary nailing versus dynamic compression plating in closed tibial fracture. Methodology: The study took place in Department of orthopedics Nishtar Hospital Multan from 9th July 2016 to March 2017. Study design is randomized controlled trials. There were 302 patients divided in two equal groups of 151. Permission was taken from the ethical committee of Nishtar Hospital. The 302 patients in age group 20-50 years of both genders meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria attending the outpatient clinic or admitted to the orthopedics department through emergency were included in the study. All the data entered and analyzed using computer software SPSS version 10. For quantitative variables like age and duration of fracture mean and standard deviation was calculated. For categorical variables like gender, malunion and infection frequency and percentage were calculated. Chi-square test was applied to compare the malunion and infection in both groups. A p value 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The 100% (n=302) patients were divided into 2 groups equally, 151 in each, i.e. intramedullary nail (group 1) and dynamic compression plating (group 2). The main outcome variables of this study were the malunion and infection. It was observed that malunion presented as 57% (n=86) and 70.9% (n=107) in group 1 and group 2 respectively. It was also observed that infection presented as 23.2% (n=35) and 37.1% (n=56) in group 1 and group 2 respectively. After applying chi-square test, it was noted that malunion associated with groups having p-value 0.012. But it was not associated with gender, stratified age and duration of fracture having p-values 0.497, 0.800 and 0.218 respectively. Similarly, after applying chi-square test, it was noted that infection associated with gender and groups having p-values 0.007 and 0.008 respectively. But it was not associated with stratified age and duration of fracture having p-values 0.565 and 0.344 respectively. Conclusion: Closed interlock intramedullary nailing has malunion and infection rates less than dynamic compression plating. So closed interlock intramedullary nailing is preferred method of closed tibia diaphyseal fracture treatment. Keywords: Intramedullary nailing, closed tibia diaphyseal fracture, dynamic compression plating

Effect of Alpha-Type external input on annihilation of self-sustained activity in a two population neural field model

In the present work, we investigate the annihilation of persistent localized activity states (bumps) in a Wilson-Cowan type two-population neural field model in response to $\alpha$ -type spatio-temporal external input. These activity states serves as working memory in the prefrontal cortex. The impact of different parameters involved in the external input on annihilation of these persistent activity states is investigated in detail. The $\alpha$ -type temporal function in the external input is closer to natural phenomenon as observed in Roth et. al . ( Nature Neuroscience , vol. 19 (2016), 229–307). Two types of eraser mechanism are used in this work to annihilate the spatially symmetric solutions. Initially, if there is an activity in the network, inhibitory external input with no excitatory part and over excitation with no inhibition in the external input can kill the activity. Our results show that the annihilation of persistent activity states using $\alpha$ -type temporal function in the external input is more roubust and more efficient as compare to triangular one as used by Yousaf et al. ( Neural networks. , vol. 46 (2013), pp. 75–90). It is also found that the relative inhibition time constant plays a crucial role in annihilation of the activity. Runge-Kutta fourth order method has been employed for numerical simulations of this work.publishedVersio

The role of integrated offline/online social activity and social identification in Facebook citizenship behaviour formation

Purpose<: Drawing on social identity theory and prosocial behaviour research, this study explores how people's integration of their offline and online social activities through Facebook cultivates their Facebook citizenship behaviour (FCB). It also offers further insight into the underlying mechanism of offline and online social activity integration - FCB relation by investigating people's social identification with their offline and online social groups as possible mediators. Design/methodology/approach: Based on social identity theory (SIT) literature, community citizenship behaviour and offline-online social activity integration through Facebook, we developed a conceptual model, which was empirically tested using data from 308 Facebook users Findings: The results confirm that the participants' offline-online social activity integration via Facebook is positively linked to their FCB. Further, the integration of offline and online social activity through Facebook positively affects how a person identifies with their offline and online social groups, which in turn causes them to display FCB. In addition, offline/online social identification mediates the integration – FCB relation. Practical implications: In practice, it is interesting to see people's tendency towards altruistic behaviours within groups they like to associate themselves with. Those who share their Facebook network with their offline friends can use such network to seek help and support. Originality/value: From a theoretical perspective, unlike past research, this study examines how individuals' offline-online social activity integration via Facebook helps them associate with groups. In addition, this study investigates social identification from an offline and online perspective

Exploring the Determinants of Digital Content Adoption By Academics: The Moderating Role of Environmental Concerns and Price Value

The study investigates the underlying motives facilitating users’ continuance intention for digital content in academic settings. Extending the expectation confirmation model of IS continuance (ECM-ISC), the study proposes a conceptual model by incorporating personal and technological antecedents of users’ continuance intention for digital content. In addition, users’ environmental concerns and price value are considered as potential moderators in the relationship between their satisfaction and continuance intention for digital content. An online survey was used to collect data from 311 digital content users of a large public university in Saudi Arabia. Structural equation modeling was used to test the relationships in the conceptual model. The results obtained from SmartPLS 3.2 confirm that compatibility, convenience, self-efficacy, and facilitating conditions are the predictors of confirmation and usefulness of digital content. The confirmation of expectations and perceived usefulness result in greater satisfaction with the digital content, which in turn leads to users’ continuance intention. In addition, the article provides empirical evidence for the impact of environmental concerns on the satisfaction–continuance intention relationship, thus opening a novel research debate. The study is expected to offer new insights both for academicians and managers of digital content

A hybrid method using kinect depth and color data stream for hand blobs segmentation

The recently developed depth sensors such as Kinect have provided new potential for human-computer interaction (HCI) and hand gesture are one of main parts in recent researches. Hand segmentation procedure is performed to acquire hand gesture from a captured image. In this paper, a method is produced to segment hand blobs using both depth and color data frames. This method applies a body segmentation and an image threshold techniques to depth data frame using skeleton data and concurrently it uses SLIC super-pixel segmentation method to extract hand blobs from color data frame with the help of skeleton data. The proposed method has low computation time and shows significant results when basic assumption are fulfilled

Knowledge creation dynamics of technological forecasting and social change special issues

Technological Forecasting and Social Change (TFSC) is a leading peer-reviewed journal that addresses issues at the intersection of technology and society. A major strategy of the journal is to actively solicit and publish Special Issues (SIs). These SIs were first launched in 1979 to highlight and solicit manuscripts from the “hot” emerging issues of the discipline. This paper aims to analyze SIs and to highlight it's impact on TFSC as compared to Regular Issues (RIs). Using bibliometric analysis, this study first establishes that SIs have a higher impact on the field than RIs when evaluated based on average citations per manuscript, percentage of ‘hot’ papers, and the rate of citations per annum. The study then identifies leading actors (authors, affiliated institutions, and countries) and journals (knowledge inflow/outflow) that have contributed to the success of TFSC-SIs. Finally, using bibliographic coupling, seven thematic clusters of TFSC's SIs were identified. These clusters were compared with the knowledge clusters developed by Singh et al. (2020) for the entirety of TFSC journals, and four clusters unique to SIs were identified i.e. (Climate Change & Energy, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Sustainability and, Social Media & Internet of Things). It is observed that these unique SI clusters have received disproportionate attention during the last decade and are likely to influence the future trajectory of the journal

Assessment of total phenolic and flavonoid contents of selected fruits and vegetables

686-693This work was conceptualized with the goal to investigate different fruits and vegetables for their comparative investigation of total phenolic and total flavonoid contents. The total phenolic content of 9 fruits and 12 vegetables used in the current study was determined by Folin-Ciocalteau assay. In addition, total flavonoid content was identified through catechin and aluminum colorimetric analysis. The ratio among the phenolic and flavonoid contents of fruits and vegetables extracts were also analyzed. Our results showed that methanolic extract of Citrullus lanatus had higher contents of phenolics and flavonoids (215±1.24 mg GAE/100 g and 73±0.81 mg CE/100 g) than other fruits. Moreover, maturity process of fruits from unripened to fully ripened stage showed significant increase in the total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Fruits under study had shown flavonoids/phenolics ratio of 0.32, which indicates that these fruits contained about 32% of flavonoid contents. Among vegetables, the greatest value of phenolic contents was observed in Capsicum annuum (213±1.24 mg GAE/100 g), and total flavonoid content in Raphanus sativus (45±1.24 mg CE/100 g). Vegetables showed lower ratios of flavonoids/phenolics (0.11-0.2) indicating lesser total flavonoid content (11-20%) as compared with fruits. The obtained results indicate that fruits and vegetables could be attributed to a potential source of natural phenolics and flavonoids in the pharmaceutical and food industry. Moreover, the antioxidant activities of these selected fruits and vegetables should also be determined in order to explore their beneficial effects against the prevention and management of disorders caused by oxidative stress