Phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of sweetpotatoes [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam]

The influence of numerous factors on sweetpotato phenolic content and antioxidant activity was determined. Simplified, robust, and rapid methodologies were developed to quantify total phenolics and individual phenolic acids in sweetpotatoes. Quantification of total phenolic content using Folin-Denis reagent provided more reliable results than Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Individual phenolic acids were quantified by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the best separation was achieved using a 5-µm, 4.6 × 250 mm column with a mobile phase of 1% (v/v) formic acid aqueous solution: acetonitrile: 2-propanol (70:22:8), pH 2.5. Methanol and ethanol provided higher phenolic extraction efficiency than acetone. In general, chlorogenic and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid were the most prominent phenolics acids in sweetpotato root and leaf tissues. Immature roots and leaves at the initial stages of growth had the highest concentration of phenolics and antioxidant activity. In a comparison of plant parts, sweetpotato leaves had a significantly higher phenolic content and antioxidant activity than roots. Thermal processing of sweetpotato storage roots resulted in a significant loss of phenolic content and antioxidant activity. The outer skin tissue (raw or processed) contained the highest amounts of phenolic acids but also exhibited higher losses than cortex or pith tissue. After a 4 week exposure to 5 °C, the rate of increase in phenolic content and antioxidant activity in non-cured sweepotatoes was significantly higher than in cured roots. An ambient temperature exposure following low temperature storage accentuated the increase in phenolics and antioxidant activity. Minimally processed sweetpotatoes held at 5 °C accumulated more phenolic compounds and had a higher antioxidant activity than sweetpotatoes held at 0 °C. The increase in total phenolic content and antioxidant activity after 8 days was higher than 4 days. No fresh-cut tissue browning was observed after 8 days and the products were considered to be marketable. Sweetpotato genotypes differ in their phenolic content and antioxidant activity. A purple-fleshed breeding line was found to have higher total phenolic content and antioxidant activity than orange-fleshed and white-fleshed cultivars

5G Technology based Edge Computing in UAV Networks for Resource Allocation with Routing using Federated Learning Access Network and Trajectory Routing Protocol

UAVs (Unmanned aerial vehicles) are being utilised more frequently in wireless communication networks of the Beyond Fifth Generation (B5G) that are equipped with a high-computation paradigm and intelligent applications. Due to the growing number of IoT (Internet of Things) devices in smart environments, these networks have the potential to produce a sizeable volume of heterogeneous data.This research propose novel technique in UAV based edge computing resource allocation and routing by machine learning technique. here the UAV-enabled MEC method regarding emerging IoT applications as well as role of machine learning (ML) has been analysed. In this research the UAV assisted edge computing resource allocation has been carried out using Monte Carlo federated learning based access network. Then the routing through UAV network has been carried out using trajectory based deterministic reinforcement collaborative routing protocol.We specifically conduct an experimental investigation of the tradeoff between the communication cost and the computation of the two possible methodologies.The key findings show that, despite the longer connection latency, the computation offloading strategy enables us to give a significantly greater throughput than the edge computing approach

Innovation capability, disruptive technology and SME's performance in Malaysia

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between innovation capacity (IC), and firm performance (FP) mediated by disruptive technology (DT) among SMEs within Selangor, Malaysia. The theoretical model is based on the Resource-Based Theory and the Theory of Innovation. To answer the research questions, four hypotheses were formulated. They are; (i) There is a significant relationship between innovative capacity and SMEs performance, (ii) There is a significant relationship between innovative capacity and disruptive technology, (iii) There is a significant relationship between disruptive technology and SMEs performance, (iv) There is a significant relationship between innovative capacity and SMEs performance mediated by disruptive technology. Self-administrated questionnaires were distributed to 800 owner-managers of SMEs in Selangor. A total of 150 firms responded in this study. This study utilised the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to establish validity and reliabiliy of measurement model and test the relationships. The results show a positive and significant relationship between innovation capacity and firm performance mediated by disruptive technology. Owner-manager of SMEs should emphasize innovativeness on all four (4) dimensions of innovations to ensure better firm performance. The results of this study also provides a better insight for various stakeholders to further understand the effects of IC and DT on SMEs performance. The study provides empirical evidence for theoretical relationship hypothesized in the research framework and also adds to knowledge on the importance of innovativeness in all aspects of firm’s offering along with adoptation of disruptive technologies in predicting firm performance. The study is confined to firm operating in Selangor. It is recommended that future research should also include other state(s) in Malaysia

Credibility: norwegian students evaluate media studies web sites

This paper investigates Norwegian university students’ evaluations of web site credibility and site authors’ vested interests with respect to a textbased academic site and an informational site with commercial support. Credibility ratings were higher for some aspects of the academic site even though the non-academic sit was rated more highly in presentation design and currency. Negative correlations emerged between academic level and confidence in deciding web site credibility and in detecting misrepresentations.Education for the 21 st century - impact of ICT and Digital Resources ConferenceRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Reading Trajectories in Elementary Grades: A Longitudinal Analysis

Research shows that children's reading proficiency levels in the early grades positively correlate with students' future academic achievement. This study provides the first-ever analysis of reading achievement trajectories for a cohort of students in grades 3 to 5 in 2014–17 in Hawaii schools. Hawaii serves a diverse student population whose characteristics differ in ways often overlooked by standard US racial and ethnic classifications. Our analysis shows that Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students not only start at a lower reading proficiency than their peers in Grade 3, but the achievement gap widens as they move from Grade 3 to Grade 5. Moreover, we find a strong association between students' third-grade performance and reading achievement growth rate above and beyond all other factors in our longitudinal model. The difference in performance patterns between student subgroups across the elementary grades can serve as an accurate baseline for yearly monitoring. In light of our findings, we discuss implications for policy and practice

Cost-effectiveness of incorporating Mycobacterium indicus pranii vaccine to multidrug therapy in newly diagnosed leprosy cases for better treatment outcomes & immunoprophylaxis in contacts as leprosy control measures for National Leprosy Eradication Programme in India

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: The elimination goal for leprosy as a public health problem at the national level was achieved in 2005 in India. However, the number of new cases reporting annually remained nearly the same during the last 10-15 years. Moreover, a substantial number of these new cases reported disabilities for the first time. Therefore, besides multidrug therapy (MDT), newer strategies with focus on effectively decreasing the number of new cases, optimizing the treatment of detected cases, averting disabilities and arresting the transmission of the disease are required. So the objective of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP) vaccine implementation in National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) for newly diagnosed leprosy patients as well as their contacts to arrest/decrease the transmission and occurrence of new cases. METHODS: This was a model-based estimation of incremental costs, total quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained, new cases averted, deaths averted, incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and budget impact of the vaccination intervention. This model included the addition of MIP treatment intervention to the newly detected leprosy patients as well as vaccination with MIP to their contacts. RESULTS: Using the societal perspective, discounted ICER was estimated to be ₹73,790 per QALY gained over a five-year time period. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) was assessed by varying the values of input parameters. Majority (96%) of simulations fell in North East quadrant of cost-effectiveness plane, which were all below the willingness to pay threshold. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Introduction of MIP vaccination in the NLEP appears to be a cost-effective strategy for India. Significant health gains were reduction in the number of new leprosy cases, decreased incidence and severity of reactions during treatment, and after release from treatment, prevention of disabilities, thus reducing the cost as well as stigma of the disease

Economic evaluation of implementing a rapid point-of-care screening test for the identification of hepatitis C virus under National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme in Tamil Nadu, South India

Introduction: Viral hepatitis is a crucial public health problem in India. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination is a national priority and a key strategy has been adopted to strengthen the HCV diagnostics services to ensure early and accurate diagnosis. Methods: To conduct an economic evaluation of implementing a rapid point-of-care screening test for the identification of HCV among the selected key population under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme in Tamil Nadu, South India. Economic evaluation of a point-of-care screening test for HCV diagnosis among the key population attending the primary health care centers. A combination of decision tree and Markov model was developed to estimate cost-effectiveness of point-of-care screening test for HCV diagnosis at the primary health care centers. Total costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) of the intervention and comparator, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were calculated. The model parameter uncertainties which would influence the cost-effectiveness outcome has been evaluated by one-way sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis. Results: When compared to the tertiary level diagnostic strategy for HCV, the point-of-care screening for selected key population at primary health care level results in a gain of 57 undiscounted QALYs and 38 discounted QALYs, four undiscounted life years and two discounted life years. The negative ICER of the new strategy indicates that it is less expensive and more effective compared with the current HCV diagnosis strategy. Conclusions: The proposed strategy for HCV diagnosis in the selected key population in Tamil Nadu is dominant and cost-saving compared to the current strategy

Long-term effects of native Hawaiian students' early academic achievement under the No Child Left Behind Legislation : a multilevel cohort analysis

Ph.D. University of Hawaii at Manoa 2011.Includes bibliographical references.The focus of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Legislation is to close the achievement gaps due to disadvantages based on minority status, socio-economic status, special education (SPED) or Limited English Proficiency (LEP). Poverty and culture have been consistently reported to have an impact on academic achievement. However, there have been few cohort studies that have investigated the impact of early academic achievement on long-term academic success in conjunction with the effects of poverty and culture. Furthermore, no multilevel studies have been conducted to study the impact of early academic achievement on future success from elementary to high school within the NCLB context. This oversight has inadvertently directed attention away from the impact of students' performance at early grades on their future academic achievement. Among all ethnic groups in Hawaii, the Native Hawaiian student population has the lowest academic performance in Hawaii's public schools. Cultural and socioeconomic disadvantages are usually associated with low performing groups. However, the disadvantage of having low early academic achievement has yet to receive adequate attention. Establishing the unique disadvantage of low early academic achievement beyond the disadvantages due to culture or poverty is crucial since early academic achievement may be one important factor affecting the student's future academic performance. A careful examination of the impact of early success on future academic achievement for the 2002 Native Hawaiian cohort was therefore conducted with the White peers serving as the control group. This multilevel cohort analysis revealed a significant and dominant impact of the academic performance at Grade 3 on the reading or math performance at the fifth, eighth and tenth grades over and beyond the effect of culture and poverty. This impact remained stable from elementary to middle school and from elementary to high school. The current study also revealed that Hawaiian ancestry translates into an additional unique disadvantage on academic performance at the fifth, eighth or tenth grade. This disadvantage increases from the third grade onwards to the tenth grade with early academic performance and poverty statistically controlled for. In contrast, the impact of low socio-economic status remained stable from the third to the tenth grade. Those results were stable whether or not SPED students were included in the analysis. The findings suggest a need to focus interventions on foundational academic preparation at the early grades. Educators in public schools should also direct more attention toward Native Hawaiian students. NCLB's focus on closing the achievement gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged groups at the school level need to be broadened to allow more instructional attention to be directed towards earlier grades

Isolation and characterization of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) and putrescine N-methyl transferase (PMT) complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) in Nicotiana benthamiana using cytoplasmic inhibition of gene expression (CIGE) technology

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2006.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-56).viii, 56 leaves, bound ill. (some col.) 29 cmThe main goal of this thesis is to show that functional genomics studies can be conducted through gene silencing and overexpressing genes via vira1 vectors. This project thus involves the cloning and subcloning of cDNA fragments in the sense and antisense direction for the study of phenotypic changes due to the overexpression and silencing effects of these inserts in N. benthamiana. The cDNAs that are used in this study are DXR (sense), DXR- (antisense), EPSP+ (sense), EPSP- (antisense) and PMT- (antisense). This project will thus seek to confirm the presence of the inserted cDNA fragments in the viral vector at 15 dpi through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR). This will show the presence of intact recombinant viral vectors containing the cDNA inserts at 15 dpi At some point the cDNA inserts will be deleted causing the recombinant viral vectors to revert back to the wild type. RNA silencing methods can also be used to mimic known herbicides such as norflurozon and a glyphosate compound (RoundupTM) (Monsanto, Minnesota) that inhibits the enzyme EPSP synthase in the shikimate pathway. N. benthamiana DXR was shown to be a new herbicide target to a known antibiotic fosmidomycin which is being represented as an herbicide in this project. Recombinant viral vector containing antisense pmt was made to decrease the levels of nicotine in the N. benthamiana plants. A recombinant viral vector containing the sense dxr insert was also made to overexpress DXR in N. benthamiana to observe its effects on the growth and development of the plant