Demographic characteristics influencing financial wellbeing: a multigroup analysis

Purpose The study attempts to understand the factors impacting the financial wellbeing of IT employees in India using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). It utilizes well-established survey instruments to assess the impact of financial literacy, financial behaviour and financial stress on financial wellbeing. The study also attempts to understand the role of demographic factors (age, gender, monthly income, job category and work experience) in determining financial wellbeing through multigroup analysis. Design/methodology/approach Structured equation modelling (SEM) is used to study the link between the determinants. The study also attempts to understand the role of demographic factors (age, gender, monthly income, job category and work experience) in determining financial wellbeing through multigroup analysis. Data used for the analysis covers 237 employees working in the IT sector. Findings While financial literacy and financial behaviour have a significant positive impact on financial wellbeing, financial stress has a significant negative impact. Financial behaviour and financial stress were found to have a mediating role in the relationship between financial literacy and financial wellbeing. The demographic variables significantly moderate the relationship between the factors leading to financial wellbeing. Originality/value The results show the need for financial wellbeing programs to focus on enhancing financial knowledge and improving financial planning. Further, it suggests offering customized financial wellbeing programs based on the employee's demographic characteristics rather than following a “one program, fits all” approach

Sinteza i farmakološka evaluacija 3-cikloheksil-2-supstituiranih hidrazino-3H-kinazolin-4-ona kao analgetika i antiinflamatorika

A series of novel 3-cyclohexyl-2-substituted hydrazino-quinazolin-4(3H)-ones were synthesized by reacting the amino group of 3-cyclohexyl-2-hydrazino quinazolin-4(3H)-one with a variety of aldehydes and ketones. The starting material, 3-cyclohexyl-2-hydrazino quinazolin-4(3H)-one, was synthesized from cyclohexyl amine. Title compounds were investigated for analgesic, anti-inflammatory and ulcerogenic behavior. The compound 3-cyclohexyl-2-(1-methylbutylidene-hydrazino)-3H-quinazolin-4-one (4c) emerged as the most active compound of the series and is moderately more potent in its analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities compared to the reference standard diclofenac sodium. Interestingly, test compounds showed only mild ulcerogenic potential when compared to acetylsalicylic acid.Reakcijom amino skupine 3-cikloheksil-2-hidrazino kinazolin-4(3H)-ona s različitim aldehidima i ketonima sintetizirani su novi 3-cikloheksil-2-supstituirani hidrazino-kinazolin-4(3H)-oni. Početni spoj 3-cikoheksil-2-hidrazino kinazolin-4(3H)-on pripravljen je iz cikloheksilamina. Sintetizirani spojevi testirani su na analgetsko i protuupalno djelovanje te ulcerogena svojstva. Spoj 3-cikloheksil-2-(1-metilbutiliden-hidrazino)-3H-kinazolin-4-on (4c) imao je najjače analgetsko i protuupalno djelovanje, nešto jače nego referentni spoj diklofenak natrij. Osim toga, testirani spojevi imaju samo blago ulcerogeno djelovanje u usporedbi s acetilsalicilnom kiselinom

Multi-Performance Optimization of Wire Cut EDM Process Parameters on Surface Roughness of AA7075 / B4Cp Metal Matrix Composites

This paper focus on multi performance optimization of process parameters for wire cut electric discharge machining of AA7075/B4C (15%) metal matrix composites processed by stir casting technique using taguchi�s design of experiment and regression analysis. The machining was performed as per design of experiments approach using L9 orthogonal array. Four wire cut electric discharge machining parameters namely pulse-on-time (TON), pulse-off-time (TOFF), spark voltage (SV) and wire tension (WT) were chosen as machining process parameters. Signal-to- noise ratio is used to find the optimal combination of process parameters. The mathematical relationships between wire cut electric discharge machining input process parameters and response parameter are established to determine optimal values of surface roughness by using regression analysis. The Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and F-test are performed to obtain statistically significant process parameters. The generated optimal process conditions have been verified by conducting confirmation experiments and predicted results have been found to be in good agreement with experimental findings

Synthesis of 1-Substituted-4-(Pyridin-4-yl) [1,2,4] Triazolo [4,3-a] Quinazolin-5(4H)-ones as a New Class of H1- Antihistaminic Agents

Purpose: To synthesize a new series of 1-substituted-4-(pyridin-4-yl) [1,2,4] triazolo [4,3-a]quinazolin- 5(4H)-ones and evaluate them for H1-antihistaminic activity with negligible side effects in guinea pigs.Methods: The synthesized compounds were characterized by Infrared spectroscopy (IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) data. The purity of the compounds was determined by elemental analysis. The antihistaminic activity of the compounds was evaluated in guinea pigs by histamine-induced bronchoconstriction method.Results: Among the series, 1-methyl-4-(pyridin-4-yl) [1,2,4] triazolo [4,3-a] quinazolin-5(4H)-one (S5) was the most potent with 72.85 % protection and its potency was comparable to that of the reference, chlorpheniramine maleate (70.09 %). Interestingly, the sedative property of compound S5 was negligible (5.09 %) when compared to chlorpheniramine maleate (29.58 %).Conclusion: Compound S5 can serve as a lead molecule for further development into a new class of H1-antihistaminic agents.Keywords: Quinazolin-5-ones, Antihistaminic activity, Histamine, Bronchoconstrictio

A comprehensive analysis of the naturally occurring polymorphisms in HIV-1 Vpr: Potential impact on CTL epitopes

The enormous genetic variability reported in HIV-1 has posed problems in the treatment of infected individuals. This is evident in the form of HIV-1 resistant to antiviral agents, neutralizing antibodies and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) involving multiple viral gene products. Based on this, it has been suggested that a comprehensive analysis of the polymorphisms in HIV proteins is of value for understanding the virus transmission and pathogenesis as well as for the efforts towards developing anti-viral therapeutics and vaccines. This study, for the first time, describes an in-depth analysis of genetic variation in Vpr using information from global HIV-1 isolates involving a total of 976 Vpr sequences. The polymorphisms at the individual amino acid level were analyzed. The residues 9, 33, 39, and 47 showed a single variant amino acid compared to other residues. There are several amino acids which are highly polymorphic. The residues that show ten or more variant amino acids are 15, 16, 28, 36, 37, 48, 55, 58, 59, 77, 84, 86, 89, and 93. Further, the variant amino acids noted at residues 60, 61, 34, 71 and 72 are identical. Interestingly, the frequency of the variant amino acids was found to be low for most residues. Vpr is known to contain multiple CTL epitopes like protease, reverse transcriptase, Env, and Gag proteins of HIV-1. Based on this, we have also extended our analysis of the amino acid polymorphisms to the experimentally defined and predicted CTL epitopes. The results suggest that amino acid polymorphisms may contribute to the immune escape of the virus. The available data on naturally occurring polymorphisms will be useful to assess their potential effect on the structural and functional constraints of Vpr and also on the fitness of HIV-1 for replication

Electrochemical performance of supercapacitor with stacked copper foils coated with graphene nanoplatelets

The energy density of conventional supercapacitors is in the range of 6–10 Wh kg−1, which has restricted them from many applications that require devices with long durations. Herein, we report a method for enhancing the energy density of a device through the parallel stacking of five copper foils coated on each side with graphene nanoplatelets. Microporous papers immersed in 2 M aqueous sodium sulphate were used as separators. With a low contact resistance of 0.05 Ω, the supercapacitor yielded an optimum specific energy density and a specific power density of 24.64 Wh kg−1 and 402 W kg−1 at 0.8 V, respectively. The working potential was increased to 2.4 V when three of the supercapacitors were connected in series, forming a tandem device. Its potential for real applications was manifested by the ability to light up a light-emitting diode for 40 s after charging for 60 s

Green tea polyphenols in cardiometabolic health: A critical appraisal on phytogenomics towards personalized green tea

Cardiovascular disease is a chronic multifactorial health complication that is either directly or indirectly associated with pathophysiological mechanisms, including pro-oxidation, pro-inflammation, vascular and endothelial dysfunction, impaired platelet function, thrombosis, and others. The therapeutic options to circumvent cardiovascular complications include several phytomedicines, including green tea polyphenols. However, while many experimental and clinical studies report distinct mechanisms by which the polyphenols of green tea elicit a beneficial role in cardiometabolic health, the translation and applications of green tea polyphenols in clinics have yet to gain their optimal use on the broader population. This review critically appraises the various reported mechanisms of green tea polyphenols in modulating cardio-metabolic health and associated phyto-genomic challenges. Further, our review highlights the probability of gene polymorphic associated therapeutic variations in individuals using green tea for cardio-metabolic effects and the necessity to personalize green tea for clinical use, thereby improvising the risk-benefit ratio

Hypoxia-induced shift in the phenotype of proteasome from 26S toward immunoproteasome triggers loss of immunoprivilege of mesenchymal stem cells

Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are immunoprivileged and are being investigated in phase I and phase II clinical trials to treat different degenerative and autoimmune diseases. In spite of encouraging outcome of initial trials, the long-term poor survival of transplanted cells in the host tissue has declined the overall enthusiasm. Recent analyses of allogeneic MSCs based studies confirm that after transplantation in the hypoxic or ischemic microenvironment of diseased tissues, MSCs become immunogenic and are rejected by recipient immune system. The immunoprivilege of MSCs is preserved by absence or negligible expression of cell surface antigen, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRα. We found that in normoxic MSCs, 26S proteasome degrades HLA-DRα and maintains immunoprivilege of MSCs. The exposure to hypoxia leads to inactivation of 26S proteasome and formation of immunoproteasome in MSCs, which is associated with upregulation and activation of HLA-DRα, and as a result, MSCs become immunogenic. Furthermore, inhibition of immunoproteasome formation in hypoxic MSCs preserves the immunoprivilege. Therefore, hypoxia-induced shift in the phenotype of proteasome from 26S toward immunoproteasome triggers loss of immunoprivilege of allogeneic MSCs. The outcome of the current study may provide molecular targets to plan interventions to preserve immunoprivilege of allogeneic MSCs in the hypoxic or ischemic environment

Sinteza i anthelmintičko djelovanje novih 2-supstituiranih-4,5-difenil imidazola

A series of 2-substituted-4,5-diphenyl imidazoles 1a-j were synthesized by refluxing benzil with different substituted aldehydes in the presence of ammonium acetate and glacial acetic acid. Structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed on the basis of IR, 1H NMR and mass spectral data. Compounds 1a-j were screened for anthelmintic activity. Test results revealed that compounds showed paralysis time of 0.24 to 1.54 s and death time of 0.39 to 4.40 s while the standard drugs albendazole and piperazine citrate showed paralysis time of 0.54 and 0.58 s and death time of 2.16 and 2.47 s, respectively, at the same concentration of 1 % (m/V). Five compounds, 2-[2-hydroxyphenyl]-4,5-diphenyl imidazole (1b), 2-[3-methoxyphenyl]-4,5-diphenyl imidazole (1c), 2-[2-phenylethenyl]-4,5-diphenyl imidazole (1e), 2-[4-fluorophenyl]-4,5-diphenyl imidazole (1g) and 2-[3-nitrophenyl]-4,5-diphenyl imidazole (1h) showed significant anthelmintic activity compared to the standard drugs.Refluksiranjem benzila s različitim supstituiranim aldehidima u prisutnosti amonijeva acetata i ledene octene kiseline sintetizirana je serija 2-supstituiranih-4,5-difenil imidazola (1a-j). Strukture sintetiziranih spojeva potvrđene su IR, 1H NMR i masenom spektroskopijom. U testovima na anthelmintičko djelovanje određeno je vrijeme paralize 0,24 do 1,54 min i vrijeme smrti 0,39 do 4,40 min, dok standarni lijekovi albendazol i piperazin citrat imaju vrijeme paralize 0,54 i 0,58 min, a vrijeme smrti 2,16, odnosno 2,47 min pri istim koncentracijama (1 % m/V). Pet spojeva, 2-[2-hidroksifenil]-4,5-difenil imidazol (1b), 2-[3-metoksifenil]-4,5-difenil imidazol (1c), 2-[2-feniletenil]-4,5-difenil imidazol (1e), 2-[4-fluorofenil]-4,5-difenil imidazol (1g) i 2-[3-nitrofenil]-4,5-difenil imidazol (1h) pokazuju značajno anthelmintičko djelovanje u odnosnu na standardne lijekove

Dizajniranje i sinteza novih derivata tiofenkarbohidrazida, tienopirazola i tienopirimidina s antioksidativnim i antitumorskim djelovanjem

2-Amino-5-acetyl-4-methyl-thiophene-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (1) and 5-acetyl-2-amino-4-methylthiophene-3-carbohydrazide (2) were synthesized and used as starting materials for the synthesis of new series of 1-(5-amino-4-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-1-carbonyl)-3-methylthiophen-2-yl) ethanone (3a), 1-(5-amino-4-(4-chloro-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-1-carbonyl)-3-methylthiophen-2-yl) ethanone (3b), 1-(4-methyl-2-amino-5-acetylthiophene-3-carbonyl) pyrazolidine-3,5-dione (4), (Z)-N\u27-(4-methyl-2-amino-5-acetylthiophene-3-carbonyl) formohydrazonic acid (5a), (Z)-ethyl-N\u27-(4-methyl-2-amino-5-acetylthiophene-3-carbonylformo hydrazonate (5b), 6-acetyl-3-amino-2,5-dimethylthieno2,3-dpyrimidin-4(3H)-one (8), 5-methyl-3-amino-2-mercapto-6-acetylthieno2,3-dpyrimidin-4(3H)-one (10) and 5-methyl-6-acetyl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydrothieno2,3-dpyrimidin-4(1H)-one (12) as potential antioxidant and antitumor agents. Pharmacological results showed that compounds 6a, 6b, 8, 10 and 12 exhibited promising antitumor and antioxidant activity.Etilni ester 2-amino-5-acetil-4-metil-tiofen-3-karboksilne kiseline (1) i 5-acetil-2-amino-4-metiltiofen-3-karbohidrazid (2) sintetizirani su i upotrebljeni kao reaktanti u sintezi novih spojeva 1-(5-amino-4-(3,5-dimetil-1H-pirazol-1-karbonil)-3-metiltiofen-2-il) etanona (3a), 1-(5-amino-4-(4-klor-3,5-dimetil-1H-pirazol-1-karbonil)-3-metiltiofen-2-il) etanona (3b), 1-(4-metil-2-amino-5-acetiltiofen-3-karbonil) pirazolidin-3,5-diona (4), (Z)-N\u27-(4-metil-2-amino-5-acetiltiofen-3-karbonil) formohidrazonske kiseline (5a), (Z)-etil-N\u27-(4-metil-2-amino-5-acetiltiofen-3-karbonilformo hidrazonata (5b), 6-acetil-3-amino-2,5-dimetiltieno2,3-dpirimidin-4(3H)-one (8), 5-metil-3-amino-2-merkapto-6-acetiltieno2,3-dpirimidin-4(3H)-ona (10) i 5-metil-6-acetil-2-tiokso-2,3-dihidrotieno2,3-dpirimidin-4(1H)-ona (12) kao potencijalnih antioksidansa i citostatika. Farmakološka ispitivanja ukazuju na to da spojevi 6a, 6b, 8, 10 i 12 imaju značajno antitumorsko i antioksidativno djelovanje