Assessing the Reliability and Validity of Research Instruments for Measuring Youth Purchase Intention in Xi'an, China: A Pilot Testing

The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the reliability and validity of research instruments developed to measure the purchase intention of youth in Xi'an, China. Given the importance of understanding youth purchase intentions and behavior for businesses and marketers, it is critical to have validated research tools, which is not currently the case. The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate the reliability and validity of such research tools using a sample of young consumers in Xi'an. Overall, the combination of Cronbach's alpha, Pearson's correlation coefficient, construct validity, and Fleiss' Cohen's kappa coefficient are used to thoroughly test the reliability and validity of the research instruments in this study. The research design for this study is quantitative and uses a structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 50 young consumers aged 18 to 35 in Xi'an to investigate the factors that influence their purchase intentions in live streaming e-commerce. The results show that the research instruments are reliable and validated for the main data collection. The results of this study will contribute to the existing knowledge of young people's purchase intentions in China and provide valuable insights for companies and marketers

On optimality conditions in nonsmooth semi-infinite vector optimization problems (Study on Nonlinear Analysis and Convex Analysis)

In this paper, we establish optimality conditions (both necessary and sufficient) for a nonsmooth semi-infinite vector optimization problem by using the scalarization method

Construction and Bioavailability Analysis of 6-Shogaol-Loaded Zein Nanoparticles

In order to solve the problem of the low bioavailability of 6-shogaol (6S), in this study, zein-sodium caseinate nanoparticles (ZCP) were constructed by the anti-solvent precipitation method as a nano-delivery carrier for 6S. The physicochemical properties of 6S-loaded zein nanoparticles (ZCP-6S) were characterized and the bioavailability was investigated by in vitro simulated digestion, Caco-2 cell model and pharmacokinetic studies in rats. The particle size distribution, microstructure and chemical structure of ZCP-6S were characterized by laser particle size analyzer, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results indicated that the nanoparticles were spherical in shape, with small particle size and uniform distribution. 6S might interact with zein through non-covalent bonds. The in vitro simulated digestion results showed that ZCP-6S increased the bioaccessibility of 6S to (75.34 ± 9.82)%. Moreover, ZCP-6S significantly enhanced the uptake and transport of 6S by Caco-2 cells. After 4 h treatment, the cell uptake increased by (0.36 ± 0.06) μg/mg. The concentration of 6S in the basolateral side of the Caco-2 cell model increased by (1.06 ± 0.06) μg/mL. In addition, pharmacokinetic studies showed that the relative oral bioavailability of 6S increased by 3.28 times after nanoparticle encapsulation. In summary, the bioaccessibility, cellular absorption and oral bioavailability of 6S were effectively improved by its encapsulation into zein nanoparticles

Reversal of Trimethyltin-Induced Learning and Memory Deficits by 3,5-Dicaffeoylquinic Acid

The antiamnesic effect of 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-diCQA) as the main phenolic compound in Artemisia argyi H. extract on cognitive dysfunction induced by trimethyltin (TMT) (7.1 μg/kg of body weight; intraperitoneal injection) was investigated in order to assess its ameliorating function in mice. In several behavioral tests, namely, the Y-maze, passive avoidance, and Morris water maze (MWM) test, 3,5-diCQA significantly ameliorated learning and memory deficits. After the behavioral tests, brain tissues from the mice were analyzed to characterize the basis of the neuroprotective effect. Acetylcholine (ACh) levels increased, whereas the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) decreased upon administration of 3,5-diCQA. In addition, 3,5-diCQA effectively protected against an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) content, an increase in the oxidized glutathione (GSH) ratio, and a decline of total superoxide dismutase (SOD) level. 3,5-diCQA may prevent neuronal apoptosis through the protection of mitochondrial activities and the repression of apoptotic signaling molecules such as p-Akt, BAX, and p-tau (Ser 404)

Effects of Physically Effective Neutral Detergent Fiber Content on Intake, Digestibility, and Chewing Activity in Fattening Heifer Fed Total Mixed Ration

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of physically effective neutral detergent fiber (peNDF) content in total mixed ration (TMR) on dry matter intake, digestibility, and chewing activity in fattening Hanwoo (Bos taurus coreanae) heifers. The experiment was designed as a replicated 3×3 Latin square using 12 heifers. Fattening heifers were offered one of three diets [high (T1), medium (T2), and low (T3) peNDF] obtained by different mixing times (3, 10, and 25 min) for the same TMR feed. The peNDF content of TMR was determined by multiplying the proportion of dry matter retained by a 1.18 mm-screen in a Penn State Particle Separator by the dietary NDF content. The peNDF1.18 content was 30.36%, 29.20%, and 27.50% for the T1, T2, and T3 diets, respectively (p<0.05). Dry matter intake was not affected by peNDF content in TMR. Total weight gain in T1 group was significantly higher (p<0.05) than in T2 and T3 groups. However, weight gain did not differ between T2 and T3 groups. The feed conversion ratio decreased with an increase in the peNDF content (T1: 12.18, T2: 14.17, and T3: 14.01 g/g). An increase in the peNDF content of TMR was associated with a linear increase in the digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber (p<0.05). Also, an increase in peNDF content of the TMR resulted in a linear increase in the number of chews in eating and ruminating (p<0.05), and consequently in the number of total chews (p<0.05). These results indicate that peNDF content affects digestibility and chewing activity. Consequently, the peNDF content of TMR should be considered for improving feed efficiency, digestibility, body weight gain, and performance in fattening heifers