The adoption of bitcoins technology: The difference between perceived future expectation and intention to use bitcoins: Does social influence matter?

Bitcoin is a decentralized system that tries to become a solution to the shortcomings of fiat and gold-based currencies. Considering its newness, the adoption level of bitcoin is yet understood. Hence, several variables are proposed in this work in examining user perceptions regarding performance expectancy, effort expectancy, trust, adoption risk, decentralization and social influence interplay, with the context of user’s future expectation and behavioral intentions to use bitcoins. Data were gathered from 293 completed questionnaire and analised using AMOS 18. The outcomes prove the sound predictability of the proposed model regarding user’s future expectations and intentions toward bitcoins. All hypotheses were supported, they were significantly affecting the dependent variables. Social influence was found as the highest predictor of behavioral intention to negatively utilize bitcoins. The significant impact of social influence, adoption risk and effort expectancy which affect behavioral intention to use bitcoins the most, are demonstrated in this study. Bitcoins should thus, present an effective, feasible and personalized program which will assist efficient usage among users. Additionally, the impacts of social influence, adoption risk and perceived trust on behavioral intention to utilize new technology were compared, and their direct path was tested together, for the first time in this context

Placental pouch closure: a novel, safe and effective surgical procedure for conservative management of placenta accreta

Background: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) has become a global problem secondary to the high rate of cesarean delivery (CD). The current study presents an effective surgical procedure (placental pouch closure) for uterine preservation in patients with PAS. Methods: We applied this procedure in sixty cases at a tertiary university hospital between September 2017 and January 2019. We included women who were diagnosed as PAS based on preoperative ultrasound and Doppler evaluation, and who had the desire for uterine preservation. Results: The procedure was successful in almost all cases; the uterus was conserved 98.33 % of participants, with no associated severe maternal morbidities or mortality. In all cases, no additional surgical procedures were needed. The mean blood loss was 1263 ml, and the mean number of units of blood required for transfusion was 2.31 units. Conclusion: Identifying and meticulously closing the placental pouch is a novel surgical procedure for conservative management of PAS. In well-selected cases with the availability of facilities and expertise, the technique could have a place as a safe and effective surgical technique in women presenting with placenta accreta who desire uterine preservation. Trial registration number: NCT03241849. Registered on August 8, 201

Symptomatic Acute Hepatitis C in Egypt: Diagnosis, Spontaneous Viral Clearance, and Delayed Treatment with 12 Weeks of Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a

The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of spontaneous viral clearance (SVC) after symptomatic acute hepatitis C and to evaluate the efficacy of 12 weeks of pegylated interferon alfa-2a in patients who did not clear the virus spontaneously.Patients with symptomatic acute hepatitis C were recruited from two "fever hospitals" in Cairo, Egypt. Patients still viremic three months after the onset of symptoms were considered for treatment with 12 weeks of pegylated interferon alfa-2a (180 microg/week).Between May 2002 and February 2006, 2243 adult patients with acute hepatitis were enrolled in the study. The SVC rate among 117 patients with acute hepatitis C was 33.8% (95%CI [25.9%-43.2%]) at three months and 41.5% (95%CI [33.0%-51.2%]) at six months. The sustained virological response (SVR) rate among the 17 patients who started treatment 4-6 months after onset of symptoms was 15/17 = 88.2% (95%CI [63.6%-98.5%]).Spontaneous viral clearance was high (41.5% six months after the onset of symptoms) in this population with symptomatic acute hepatitis C. Allowing time for spontaneous clearance should be considered before treatment is initiated for symptomatic acute hepatitis C

Presence of Caffeic Acid in Flaxseed Lignan Macromolecule

Phenolic compounds were extracted from defatted flaxseeds using ethanol-dioxane (1:1, v/v). The crude extract obtained was purified using Amberlite XAD-16 column chromatography with water and methanol as mobile phases. RP-HPLC and SE-HPLC showed a lignan macromolecule (LM) as a dominant phenolic compound in the purified extract. After the alkaline hydrolysis of LM caffeic acid glucoside (CaAG) was isolated using a semi-preparative HPLC and its structure was confirmed by LC-ESI-MS. In LM of the investigated flaxseed, one molecule of caffeic acid corresponded with five molecules of p-coumaric acid and two molecules of ferulic acid. The presence of caffeic acid in the lignan molecule might be very beneficial due to its high antioxidant activity

Effect of rye bread breakfasts on subjective hunger and satiety: a randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several studies report that dietary fibre from different sources promotes the feeling of satiety and suppresses hunger. However, results for cereal fibre from rye are essentially lacking. The aim of the present study was to investigate subjective appetite during 8 h after intake of iso-caloric rye bread breakfasts varying in rye dietary fibre composition and content.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was divided into two parts. The first part (n = 16) compared the satiating effect of iso-caloric bread breakfasts including different milling fractions of rye (bran, intermediate fraction (B4) and sifted flour). The second part (n = 16) investigated the dose-response effect of rye bran and intermediate rye fraction, each providing 5 or 8 g of dietary fibre per iso-caloric bread breakfast. Both study parts used a wheat bread breakfast as reference and a randomised, within-subject comparison design. Appetite (hunger, satiety and desire to eat) was rated regularly from just before breakfast at 08:00 until 16:00. Amount, type and timing of food and drink intake were standardised during the study period.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The Milling fractions study showed that each of the rye breakfasts resulted in a suppressed appetite during the time period before lunch (08:3012:00) compared with the wheat reference bread breakfast. At a comparison between the rye bread breakfasts the one with rye bran induced the strongest effect on satiety. In the afternoon the effect from all three rye bread breakfasts could still be seen as a decreased hunger and desire to eat compared to the wheat reference bread breakfast.</p> <p>In the Dose-response study both levels of rye bran and the lower level of intermediate rye fraction resulted in an increased satiety before lunch compared with the wheat reference bread breakfast. Neither the variation in composition between the milling fractions nor the different doses resulted in significant differences in any of the appetite ratings when compared with one another.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results show that rye bread can be used to decrease hunger feelings both before and after lunch when included in a breakfast meal. Rye bran induces a stronger effect on satiety than the other two rye fractions used when served in iso-caloric portions.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Trial registration number NCT00876785</p

A comparative study of chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Morchella esculenta (L.) Pers. from Portugal and Serbia

A comparative study on chemical composition (nutritional value, primary and secondary metabolites), antioxidant properties (scavenging activity, reducing power and inhibition of lipid peroxidation), and antimicrobial activity (antibacterial and demelanizing properties) of two samples of Morchella esculenta (morel) from different countries (Portugal and Serbia) was performed. This species was chosen for being one of the most highly prized edible mushrooms in the world. Both samples are rich in carbohydrates (including free sugars) and proteins, and contain several bioactive compounds such as organic acids, phenolic compounds and tocopherols. Polyunsaturated fatty acids were the most abundant compounds followed by mono or saturated fatty acids. Sample from Portugal (SP) gave higher radical scavenging activity and reducing power, while sample from Serbia (SS) showed higher lipid peroxidation inhibition. Both samples gave antibacterial activity against five bacteria (in some cases even better than standard antibiotics) and demelanizing activity against four micromycetes, showing SS higher activities. As far as we know, this is the first study reporting chemical compounds and bioactivity of morel samples from Portugal and Serbia. Furthermore, a novel method for evaluation of demelanizing activity was presented.The authors are grateful to Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) and COMPETE/QREN/EU (research project PTDC/AGR-ALI/110062/2009; bilateral cooperation action Portugal/Serbia 2011; strategic projects PEst-OE/AGR/UI0690/2011 and PEst-C/QUI/UI0686/2011), and to Serbian Ministry of Education and Science (grant number 173032) for financial support. S.A. Heleno (BD/70304/2010) and L. Barros (BPD/4609/2008) also thank FCT, POPH-QREN and FSE

Phenolic, polysaccharidic and lipidic fractions of mushrooms from northeast Portugal: chemical compounds with antioxidant properties

Mushrooms do not constitute a significant portion of the human diet, but their consumption continues to increase due to their functional benefits and presence of bioactive compounds. Some of those compounds can be found in the phenolic, polysaccharidic and lipidic fractions of edible and inedible species. Herein, those fractions of five wild mushrooms (Coprinopsis atramentaria, Lactarius bertillonii, Lactarius vellereus, Rhodotus palmatus and Xerocomus chrysenteron) from Northeast Portugal were studied for their chemical composition and antioxidant properties. Protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, p-coumaric and cinnamic acids were found in the phenolic fraction, ramnose, xylose, fucose, arabinose, fructose, glucose, manose, mannitol, sucrose, maltose and trehalose were quantified in polysaccharidic fraction, linoleic and stearic (only in Lactarius sp.) acids, and β- and γ-tocopherols were the main compounds in the lipidic fraction. C. atramentaria and X. chrysenteron phenolic fractions gave the highest free radical scavenging activity, reducing properties and lipid peroxidation inhibition in brain homogenates, which is in agreement with its highest content in total phenolics. Furthermore, among the polysaccharidic fractions C. atramentaria also gave the highest antioxidant activity, which is accordingly with its highest total polysaccharides content and sugars obtained after hydrolysis.The authors are grateful to Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) and COMPETE/QREN/EU (research project PTDC/AGR-ALI/110062/2009) for financial support. L. Barros (BPD/4609/2008) and S.A. Heleno (BD/70304/2010) also thank FCT, POPH-QREN and FSE. The GIP-USAL is financially supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación through the Consolider-Ingenio 2010 Programme (FUN-C-FOOD, CSD2007-00063), and Junta de Castilla y León (Grupo de Investigación de Excelencia, GR133)

Identification of QTL underlying vitamin E contents in soybean seed among multiple environments

Vitamin E (VE) in soybean seed has value for foods, medicines, cosmetics, and animal husbandry. Selection for higher VE contents in seeds along with agronomic traits was an important goal for many soybean breeders. In order to map the loci controlling the VE content, F5-derived F6 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were advanced through single-seed-descent (SSD) to generate a population including 144 RILs. The population was derived from a cross between ‘OAC Bayfield’, a soybean cultivar with high VE content, and ‘Hefeng 25’, a soybean cultivar with low VE content. A total of 107 polymorphic simple sequence repeat markers were used to construct a genetic linkage map. Seed VE contents were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography for multiple years and locations (Harbin in 2007 and 2008, Hulan in 2008 and Suihua in 2008). Four QTL associated with α-Toc (on four linkage groups, LGs), eight QTL associated with γ-Toc (on eight LGs), four QTL associated with δ-Toc (on four LGs) and five QTL associated with total VE (on four LGs) were identified. A major QTL was detected by marker Satt376 on linkage group C2 and associated with α-Toc (0.0012 > P > 0.0001, 5.0% < R2 < 17.0%, 25.1 < α-Toc < 30.1 μg g−1), total VE (P < 0.0001, 7.0% < R2 < 10.0%, 118.2 < total VE < 478.3 μg g−1). A second QTL detected by marker Satt286 on LG C2 was associated with γ-Toc (0.0003 > P > 0.0001, 6.0% < R2 < 13.0%, 141.5 < γ-Toc < 342.4 μg g−1) and total VE (P < 0.0001, 2.0% < R2 < 9.0%, 353.9 < total VE < 404.0 μg g−1). Another major QTL was detected by marker Satt266 on LG D1b that was associated with α-Toc (0.0002 > P > 0.0001, 4.0% < R2 < 6.0%, 27.7 < α-Toc < 43.7 μg g−1) and γ-Toc (0.0032 > P > 0.0001, 3.0% < R2 < 10.0%, 69.7 < γ-Toc < 345.7 μg g−1). Since beneficial alleles were all from ‘OAC Bayfield’, it was concluded that these three QTL would have great potential value for marker assisted selection for high VE content