Effect of Drying Techniques on the Physical, Functional, and Rheological Attributes of Isolated Sunflower Protein and Its Hydrolysate

The influence of freeze and convection (at 40 and 50 °C) drying on the physical, functional, and rheological attributes of sunflower protein (SP) and its hydrolysate (SPH) was investigated. Compared with convectively-dried samples, the lightness, turbidity, bulk density, and particle size values of the freeze-dried SP and SPH were substantially higher, but the browning index was lower (p < 0.05). Additionally, freeze-dried samples exhibited good solubility and foaming characteristics, whereas lower emulsion properties with the most pH values were observed. Furthermore, SPHs possessed higher solubility as well as foamability over SPs under varying pH values (2.0–10.0), whilst reduction in the emulsion activity index was clearly observed (p < 0.05). Convectively-dried powders exhibited greater viscosity and consistency coefficient; and significantly lower flow behavior index of dispersions, relative to the respective freeze-dried preparations, indicating that dehydration methods influenced the flow behavior of the investigated samples. From a molecular weight analysis, convectively-dried samples at various temperatures were characterized with high proportion of small-sized particles at ≤1 kDa fractions over the respective powders obtained by freeze drying. The observations made, thus, would benefit food processors and manufacturers in electing better dehydration technique based on the desired traits of SP and SPH powders for successful application in food product formulations.

Beneficial Prognostic Effects of Aspirin in Patients Receiving Sorafenib for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Tale of Multiple Confounders

Case–control observational studies suggested that aspirin might prevent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients, even if randomized clinical trials are lacking. Information regarding aspirin in subjects who already developed HCC, especially in its advanced stage, are scarce. While aspirin might be a low-cost option to improve the prognosis, multiple confounders and safety concerns are to be considered. In our retrospective analyses of a prospective dataset (n = 699), after assessing the factors associated with aspirin prescription, we applied an inverse probability treatment weight analysis to address the prescription bias. Analyses of post-sorafenib survival were also performed to reduce the influence of subsequent medications. Among the study population, 133 (19%) patients were receiving aspirin at the time of sorafenib prescription. Aspirin users had a higher platelet count and a lower prevalence of esophageal varices, macrovascular invasion, and Child–Pugh B status. The benefit of aspirin was confirmed in terms of overall survival (HR 0.702, 95% CI 0.543–0.908), progression-free survival, disease control rate (58.6 vs. 49.5%, p < 0.001), and post-sorafenib survival even after weighting. Minor bleeding events were more frequent in the aspirin group. Aspirin use was associated with better outcomes, even after the correction for confounders. While safety concerns arguably remain a problem, prospective trials for patients at low risk of bleeding are warranted.

Study on the safety speed of vehicle turning with considering the driving safety evaluation

Safety speeds estimation, as an indispensable link in the development of the aided or automatic drive, receives wide attention recently. Due to uncertain disturbances of vehicle driving, it is a challenging task to estimate the safety speed credibly. This work proposes a modified estimation approach to predict the turning safety speed by combining the static drive safety evaluation with the dynamic vehicle speed calculation. First, the driving safety state is evaluated considering the coupling of driver-vehicle-road-environment, where a comprehensive evaluation is obtained by combing the analytic hierarchy process and entropy weight analysis method. Then, a turning critical speed is calculated based on the vehicle driving dynamics considering both sideslip and rollover. The estimation of turning safety speed is achieved by modifying the critical speed with a safety correction factor obtained from the driving safety state evaluation. Finally, cases discussion on driving safety states evaluation, as well as the critical speed verification and safety speed analysis, are carried out. The results verify the validity of the driving safety state evaluation and critical speed calculation. The safety speeds have a reasonable safety margin according to the driving safety state evaluation. The maximum differences between the safety speeds and critical speeds are about 26.45% for buses and 26.39% for cars under low adhesion conditions, showing sufficient reliability for safety speed estimation.

Factors Affecting NPAs in Indian Banking Sector

Banking sector is the backbone of any economy, so it is necessary to focus on its performance which is largely affected by its non-performing assets (NPAs). In the year 2018–2019, NPA of scheduled banks was Rs 355,076 Crore which is 3.7% of net advances. The purpose of this study is to identify the determinants based on analysis from previous literatures, and majorly macroeconomic and bank specific factors which are affecting NPAs using the relative weight analysis and to frame a model to predict future NPAs using multiple regression model using SPSS. The study also attempts to focus on actions and remedies that banks should make to control future NPAs. Findings of the study will act as a scaffolding for financial analysts and policymakers to prevent the conversion of its performing assets into NPAs and also help in proper management of banks and also in the recovery of economy.

Evaluation and Analysis of Animation Multimedia 3D Lip Synchronization considering the Comprehensive Weighted Algorithm

The 3D lip synchronization is one of the hot topics and difficulties in the field of computer graphics. How to carry out 3D lip synchronization effectively and accurately is an important research direction in the field of multimedia. On this basis, a comprehensive weighted algorithm is introduced in this paper to sort out the related laws and the time of lip pronunciation in animation multimedia, carry out the vector weight analysis on the texts in the animation multimedia, and synthesize a matching evaluation model for 3D lip synchronization. At the same time, the goal of simultaneous evaluation can be achieved by synthesizing the transitional mouth pattern sequence between consecutive mouth patterns. The results of the simulation experiment indicate that the comprehensive weighted algorithm is effective and can support the evaluation and analysis of animation multimedia 3D lip synchronization.

Visualization of E-Gov Adoption Models in a Developing Region

Advancements of information and communication technologies (ICT) have made it possible for governments to shift a vast majority of their services online, creating what is known as electronic government (e-gov). Many researchers have been studying the factors influencing users' behavioural intentions to use such services. This study methodically examines and visualizes the various relationships between variables and their overall performance by reviewing the findings of 51 publications in the context of the Arab gulf countries (known as GCC countries). The study provides a holistic diagrammatic representation of the synthesized models depicting the various types and directions of relationships between variables, followed by a weight analysis of the frequently used relationships in order to determine their overall cumulative performance. The outcomes of this review contribute to theory and practice by identifying e-gov adoption research patterns and gaps and by providing recommendations to policymakers and officials involved in developing and implementing e-gov systems.

Length–weight analysis of ten species (Actinopterygii) supporting subsistence fishery in Lakshadweep waters, southern Arabian Sea

The length–weight relations of ten fish species representing eight genera and four families and that formed the backbone of the subsistence fishery in the Lakshadweep islands were estimated. These fishes which included four species of tuna [Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus, 1758); Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre, 1788); Auxis thazard (Lacepède, 1800); Euthynnus affinis (Cantor, 1849)], three species of needlefishes[Ablennes hians (Valenciennes, 1846); Tylosurus crocodilus (Péron et Leseur, 1821); Tylosurus acus melanotus (Bleeker, 1850)], two species of bait fishes [Spratelloides delicatulus (Bennett, 1832); Spratelloides gracilis (Temminck et Schlegel, 1846)], and one species of halfbeak (Hemiramphus archipelagicus Collette et Parin, 1978) contributed to 96% of the total fish landings. The samples were collected from fish landing centers of ten inhabited islands of Lakshadweep from 2015 to 2017. Katsuwonus pelamis showed isometric growth, S. delicatulus and S. gracilis exhibited positive allometry, while negative allometric growth was seen in other species. The coefficient a of the LWR ranged from 0.001 (A. hians) to 0.035 (T. albacares), while b ranged from 2.7 (T. acus melanotus) to 3.4 (S. delicatulus). The results of the presently reported study provide useful biological information on the stock of ten commercially important pelagic fish species supporting the traditional fisheries in Lakshadweep waters.

Length–weight analysis of ten species (Actinopterygii) supporting subsistence fishery in Lakshadweep waters, southern Arabian Sea

The length–weight relations of ten fish species representing eight genera and four families and that formed the backbone of the subsistence fishery in the Lakshadweep islands were estimated. These fishes which included four species of tuna [Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus, 1758); Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre, 1788); Auxis thazard (Lacepède, 1800); Euthynnus affinis (Cantor, 1849)], three species of needlefishes[Ablennes hians (Valenciennes, 1846); Tylosurus crocodilus (Péron et Leseur, 1821); Tylosurus acus melanotus (Bleeker, 1850)], two species of bait fishes [Spratelloides delicatulus (Bennett, 1832); Spratelloides gracilis (Temminck et Schlegel, 1846)], and one species of halfbeak (Hemiramphus archipelagicus Collette et Parin, 1978) contributed to 96% of the total fish landings. The samples were collected from fish landing centers of ten inhabited islands of Lakshadweep from 2015 to 2017. Katsuwonus pelamis showed isometric growth, S. delicatulus and S. gracilis exhibited positive allometry, while negative allometric growth was seen in other species. The coefficient a of the LWR ranged from 0.001 (A. hians) to 0.035 (T. albacares), while b ranged from 2.7 (T. acus melanotus) to 3.4 (S. delicatulus). The results of the presently reported study provide useful biological information on the stock of ten commercially important pelagic fish species supporting the traditional fisheries in Lakshadweep waters.