12 research outputs found
Balancing the double‐edged sword effect of increased resistant starch content and its impact on rice texture: its genetics and molecular physiological mechanisms
Resistant starch (RS) is the portion of starch that escapes gastrointestinal digestion and acts as a substrate for fermentation of probiotic bacteria in the gut. Aside from enhancing gut health, RS contributes to a lower glycemic index. A genome‐wide association study coupled with targeted gene association studies was conducted utilizing a diverse panel of 281 resequenced Indica rice lines comprising of ~2.2 million single nucleotide polymorphisms. Low‐to‐intermediate RS phenotypic variations were identified in the rice diversity panel, resulting in novel associations of RS to several genes associated with amylopectin biosynthesis and degradation. Selected rice lines encoding superior alleles of SSIIa with medium RS and inferior alleles with low RS groups were subjected to detailed transcriptomic, metabolomic, non‐starch dietary fibre (DF), starch structural and textural attributes. The gene regulatory networks highlighted the importance of a protein phosphatase alongside multiple genes of starch metabolism. Metabolomics analyses resulted in the identification of several metabolite hubs (carboxylic acid, sugars and polyamines) in the medium RS group. Among DF, mannose and galactose from the water‐insoluble fraction were found to be highly associated with low and medium RS lines, respectively. Starch structural analyses revealed that a moderate increase in RS is also linked to an elevation of amylose 1 and amylose 2 fractions. Although rice lines with medium RS content negatively affected textural and viscosity properties in comparison to low RS, the textural property of medium RS lines was in the same acceptable range as IR64, a rice mega variety popular in Asia
Promoting Investments on Renewable Energy Through the Feed-In Tariff Scheme: The Case of the Philippines
The Plant Journal
Summary Brown rice possesses various nutritionally dense bioactive phytochemicals exhibiting wide range of antioxidant, anticancer and antidiabetic properties known to promote various human health benefits. However, despite the wide claims made about the importance of brown rice for human nutrition the underlying metabolic diversity not systematically explored. Non-targeted metabolite profiling of developing and mature seeds of a diverse genetic panel of 320 rice cultivars allowed quantification of 117 metabolites. The metabolite genome-wide association study (mGWAS) detected genetic variants influencing diverse metabolic targets in developing and mature seeds. We further interlinked genetic variants on chromosome 7 (6.06-6.43 Mb region) with complex epistatic genetic interactions impacting multi-dimensional nutritional targets, including complex carbohydrate starch quality, glycemic index, antioxidant catechin and rice grain colour. Through this nutrigenomics approach rare gene bank accessions possessing genetic variants in bHLH and IPT5 genes were identified through haplotype enrichment. These variants were associated with low glycemic index, higher catechin, elevated total flavonoid contents and heightened antioxidant activity in the whole grain with elevated anti-cancer properties being confirmed on cancer cell lines. This multi-disciplinary nutrigenomics approach thus allowed us to discover the genetic basis of human-health conferring diversity in the metabolome of brown rice
Green Thumbs Incorporated: A business plan on transplant
Executive Summary. Green Thums Incorporated is a corporation that is organized to create new and innovative products like Transplant to satisfy the needs of the consumers. The business address of the corporation is at 99-C Jose Abad Santos St., Bayview Village, Parañaque City.
Transplant is a unique and innovative product that uses gel (from organic materials) instead of the common soil. The gel it uses is made of 100% non-toxic, biodegradable, odorless crystals that saves watering by 90%.
The primary market of Transplant includes both schools and households namely, College of St. Benilde, St. Benedict\u27s College, Bayview Village, Cityland Megaplaza and Fortunata Village. The primary market has a total population of (N=13,290) with 11050 students and 2240 residents of the respective households. A sample size of 266 respondents was obtained using the Systematic Random Sampling. A survey questionnaire was distributed among the primary market and after the completion, the proponents were able to gather data and analyzed them. Based on the survey, 76% of the respondents find Transplant unique and majority of the respondents (91%) are willing to buy the product. The monthly potential demand was computed to be 1275 units and the market share is 68.07%.
Through the time and motion study the proponents was able to conclude that the Assembly Line Method is the more operative way of producing the product. In one production day, an average of 217 units of the product can be produced. Minimum output is 115 units while maximum output is 319 units of the product Transplant per day. Cycle time for the production of one unit of Transplant is 47 minutes. Production Cost per unit was computed to be 38.00 per unit. The selling price of the product was also computed to be P79.00 per unit with a mark up of 51.94%. The Break-even analysis presented that Green Thumbs Incorporated needs to sell more or less 583 units of Transplant or attain gross profit of P 172,744.72 to avoid incurring losses.
The type of business ownership that the proponents chose was corporation. The corporate name Green Thumbs Incorporated was selected because the proponents are believed to be good in taking care of plants and are very gifted. The corporation will operate for ten (10) months. The Board of Directors of the company are the stockholders as well. Each of the proponents have the duties and responsibilities to observe.
From the requirement of the business management department, no liabilities shall be allowance or through the help of their parents. The project cost required to finance the first month of operation is P 38,000. Projected financial statements are also provided to show the expected income and the assets of the corporation. It is projected that the business will generate an income of P 151,523.17 at the end of existence. It will have a total assets amounting to 189,057.16. The return on investment is 399% while the return on equity is 80.15%. Clearly, the business is very profitable.
Green Thumbs Incorporated has prepared for incoming risks by creating and implementing measures that will either prevent it or solve it once problems arise from it. Control measures were also put up to ensure the fulfillment of the company\u27s goals.
In conclusion, the study that the proponents made presented that the project was viable and accepted in the market. However, the proponents still should take into consideration the risks that the company might encounter during the actual business operation such as peso devaluation, inflation and economic crisis. Being open to improvements will surely make the company more efficient and effective
Redefining Roles: University E-Learning Contributing to Lifelong Learning in a Networked World?
Access Denied: Towards a New Approach to Social Protection for Formally Excluded Migrants
Does Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Matter for Children’s Health Status? Insights from Northern Ghana
Risk of mental health and nutritional problems for left-behind children of international labor migrants
Rivaroxaban with or without aspirin in stable cardiovascular disease
BACKGROUND: We evaluated whether rivaroxaban alone or in combination with aspirin would be more effective than aspirin alone for secondary cardiovascular prevention. METHODS: In this double-blind trial, we randomly assigned 27,395 participants with stable atherosclerotic vascular disease to receive rivaroxaban (2.5 mg twice daily) plus aspirin (100 mg once daily), rivaroxaban (5 mg twice daily), or aspirin (100 mg once daily). The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, stroke, or myocardial infarction. The study was stopped for superiority of the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group after a mean follow-up of 23 months. RESULTS: The primary outcome occurred in fewer patients in the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group than in the aspirin-alone group (379 patients [4.1%] vs. 496 patients [5.4%]; hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 0.86; P<0.001; z=−4.126), but major bleeding events occurred in more patients in the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group (288 patients [3.1%] vs. 170 patients [1.9%]; hazard ratio, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.40 to 2.05; P<0.001). There was no significant difference in intracranial or fatal bleeding between these two groups. There were 313 deaths (3.4%) in the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group as compared with 378 (4.1%) in the aspirin-alone group (hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.71 to 0.96; P=0.01; threshold P value for significance, 0.0025). The primary outcome did not occur in significantly fewer patients in the rivaroxaban-alone group than in the aspirin-alone group, but major bleeding events occurred in more patients in the rivaroxaban-alone group. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with stable atherosclerotic vascular disease, those assigned to rivaroxaban (2.5 mg twice daily) plus aspirin had better cardiovascular outcomes and more major bleeding events than those assigned to aspirin alone. Rivaroxaban (5 mg twice daily) alone did not result in better cardiovascular outcomes than aspirin alone and resulted in more major bleeding events