Zebrafish Class 1 Phosphatidylinositol Transfer Proteins: PITPβ and Double Cone Cell Outer Segment Integrity in Retina

Phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins (PITPs) in yeast coordinate lipid metabolism with the activities of specific membrane trafficking pathways. The structurally unrelated metazoan-specific PITPs (mPITPs), on the other hand, are an under-investigated class of proteins. It remains unclear what biological activities mPITPs discharge, and the mechanisms by which these proteins function are also not understood. The soluble class 1 mPITPs include the PITPα and PITPβ isoforms. Of these, the β-isoforms are particularly poorly characterized. Herein, we report the use of zebrafish as a model vertebrate for the study of class 1 mPITP biological function. Zebrafish express PITPα and PITPβ-isoforms (Pitpna and Pitpnb, respectively) and a novel PITPβ-like isoform (Pitpng). Pitpnb expression is particularly robust in double cone cells of the zebrafish retina. Morpholino-mediated protein knockdown experiments demonstrate Pitpnb activity is primarily required for biogenesis/maintenance of the double cone photoreceptor cell outer segments in the developing retina. By contrast, Pitpna activity is essential for successful navigation of early developmental programs. This study reports the initial description of the zebrafish class 1 mPITP family, and the first analysis of PITPβ function in a vertebrate

Formulation and Process Optimization of Buccoadhesive Tablet of Rabeprazole

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to prepare and evaluate bucco-adhesive tablets of rabeprazole sodium that avoid gastric degradation and first pass metabolism, thereby increasing the drug bioavailability and onset of action. The drug, rabeprazole sodium, belongs to a class of antisecretory compounds. In the present work, different ratios of Gantrez MS 955 along with HPMC K4M were studied to give bioadhesive strength. To stabilize the drug in human saliva different stabilizers were studied, of which sodium carbonate was found the best. A 3 2 full factorial design was applied to investigate the combined effect of Gantrez MS 955 concentration (X1) and HPMC K4M concentration (X2). Results of the multiple regression analysis revealed that the independent variables significantly affected the dependent variables (bioadhesive strength (Y1) and t50 (Y2)). On the basis of multiple linear regression analysis and contour plot evaluation, it was found that the effect of Gantrez is comparatively more pronounced than that of HPMC K4M on bioadhesion. The formulation F19 fulfilled all the criteria set from the desirability search. From the in vitro diffusion study flux was calculated for the optimized batch. Study of the effect of tablet diameter and the environmental factors on the bioadhesion of the tablet was done. To study the environmental factor on bioadhesion, prehydration time and contact time were considered. Result found that increase in prehydration time decrease in bioadhesive strength and increase in contact time increased bioadhesive strength. Thus a stable buccoadhesive formulation optimized for formulation ingredients and process parameters was prepared successfully

Sustainable Consumption: Will They Buy It Again? Factors Influencing the Intention to Repurchase Organic Food Grain

Global consumption trends point to rising demand for organic food as people become more health-conscious. The factors that people consider while making initial organic purchases have been discussed at length. However, the published research is scant about the factors that affect consumers’ propensity to repurchase organic goods. The present research fills this gap by focusing on what influences consumers’ decisions to repurchase organic grain. The Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theory and the Theory of Planned Behaviour are the theoretical foundations of the present investigation. The consumer’s attitude toward organic grains and their desire to repurchase organic grains are influenced by health consciousness and previous experience. The repurchase intent was determined to be controlled by the buyer’s willingness to pay and their level of trust in the organic grain. This cross-sectional study collected the necessary data from five chosen urban centres in India. Smart PLS 3.2.9 was used to analyse the gathered data from 463 respondents. According to the findings, health consciousness and past experience favourably influence attitudes and repurchase intent. The trust that consumers have built up in organic grain as a result of past experiences is what drives their desire to make more purchases. Willingness to pay significantly controls and impacts the inclination to repurchase. The association between health consciousness and repurchase intention is partially mediated by attitude, as is the relationship between past experience and repurchase intention. The relationship between health consciousness and the desire to repurchase is partially mediated by the willingness to pay

Role of Gender in Predicting Determinant of Financial Risk Tolerance

This research was conducted to determine whether the determinants of financial risk tolerance varied by gender or whether the same factors influenced the risk-taking capacities of both genders. This study utilised personality types (Type-A and Type-B), financial literacy, and six demographic parameters, including marital status, age, education, income, occupation, and the number of dependents, as independent variables, and gender as a dividing variable. In order to conduct this study, information was gathered from 671 investors. The financial risk tolerance of male investors was determined by six out of eight independent factors (personality type, financial literacy, marital status, income, occupation, and the number of dependents). However, just four factors (personality type, financial literacy, marital status, and income) have a substantial impact on the financial risk tolerance of female investors

Role of Gender in Predicting Determinant of Financial Risk Tolerance

This research was conducted to determine whether the determinants of financial risk tolerance varied by gender or whether the same factors influenced the risk-taking capacities of both genders. This study utilised personality types (Type-A and Type-B), financial literacy, and six demographic parameters, including marital status, age, education, income, occupation, and the number of dependents, as independent variables, and gender as a dividing variable. In order to conduct this study, information was gathered from 671 investors. The financial risk tolerance of male investors was determined by six out of eight independent factors (personality type, financial literacy, marital status, income, occupation, and the number of dependents). However, just four factors (personality type, financial literacy, marital status, and income) have a substantial impact on the financial risk tolerance of female investors