Supplementary Product Research Articles

Antioxidant Effects of Anthocyanin-Rich Riceberry™ Rice Flour Prepared Using Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Technology on Iron-Induced Oxidative Stress in Mice.

Redox-active iron generates reactive oxygen species that can cause oxidative organ dysfunction. Thus, the anti-oxidative systems in the body and certain dietary antioxidants, such as anthocyanins, are needed to control oxidative stress. We aimed to investigate the effects of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma technology in the preparation of Riceberry™ rice flour (PRBF) on iron-induced oxidative stress in mice. PRBF using plasma technology was rich in anthocyanins, mainly cyanidine-3-glucoside and peonidine-3-glucoside. PRBF (5 mg AE/mg) lowered WBC numbers in iron dextran (FeDex)-loaded mice and served as evidence of the reversal of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity, plasma total antioxidant capacity, and plasma and liver thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in the loading mice. Consequently, the PRBF treatment was observed to be more effective than NAC treatment. PRBF would be a powerful supplementary and therapeutic antioxidant product that is understood to be more potent than NAC in ameliorating the effects of iron-induced oxidative stress.

A study of compressive strength of concrete by using sugarcane baggase ash

Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is widely as a construction material in the entire world. Since silica and lime being the basic components of the ordinary Portland cement therefore many industrial waste materials comprising of these elements are used as supplementary product in OPC. Sugarcane Bagasse ash is one such material which has high silica (SiO2) content that results in formation of C-S-H bond when operated with free lime. The basic idea behind the utilization of industrial waste is to reduce its abundance in nature and also to minimize the cost of concrete. The present study focusses on making a sustainable concrete and assessing its performance by using sugarcane baggase ash (SCBA) as replacement of cement with different percentages (0%,5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%). For the same M25 & M30 grade of concrete with water cement ratio of 0.45 was prepared by using this composition cube casted for testing purpose. The curing of these specimen was done in different environments and the strength was analyzed at various concrete ages i.e. 7, 28, 56, and 90 days. The study provided the evidence that utilization of SCBA as replacement with cement is highly advantageous up to an optimal limit without causing any reduction in strength. In addition, it revealed that SCBA concrete performs better when subjected to aggressive environment as compared to OPC even at later stage.

The anti‐inflammatory and anti‐oxidative potential of synbiotics in two independent cell lines

This study was performed to help the researchers who are investigating or screening functional Lactobacillus strains with some kinds of prebiotics such as oligosaccharide, polysaccharide and fibre throughout serial in vitro study. We selected some Lactobacillus strains with prebiotics to be treated on two cell lines that we hypothesised them as gut and brain when the host consumes synergistic synbiotics. Selected synergistic synbiotics candidate significantly protected each cell against different stressors. The results may be used to develop supplementary functional dairy product as diet therapy or as medication to protect gut and brain who suffer from brain‐related disease.

Development and Evaluation of Nutritious Supplementary Food Product in Phenyl Hydrazine Induced Anaemia in Wistar Rats

Objective- Nutritional deficiency anemia mainly results from a lack of iron, but it also associated due to lack of folate/vitamin B12 and low vitamin C intake. From various studies this is found anemia in people is due to poor eating habits, such as not eating enough fruits and legumes such as beans and peas. Proper nutritional supplementation may be useful in such condition. The aim of the present work was to select a suitable iron rich food material, and prepared a suitable dosage form for management of anaemic condition and to evaluate anti-anaemic potential of nutritious supplementary food. Method- Anemia was induced by phenyl-hydrazine. Animals were treated with nutritious supplementary food throughout the study for 30 days. The haemoglobin concentration was determined after 30 days. Results- Nutritious supplementary food was found to be rich in folic acid, ascorbic acid, and iron. Following the induction of anaemia, the haemoglobin concentration decreased by 30%. Administration of standard hematinic preparation and nutritious supplementary food 2gm/day in divided dose resulted in significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in haemoglobin concentration when compared to the untreated phenyl hydrazine-induced anaemic rats. Conclusion- Nutritious supplementary food effectively raised the level of haemoglobin. Vitamin and minerals found in nutritious supplementary food are most likely active ingredients responsible for its hematinic effects.
 Keywords- Anaemia, nutrition, nutritional anaemia, iron, phenyl hydrazine

INVESTİGATİON OF NUTRİTİONAL HABİTS AND SUPPORT PRODUCT USE CONDİTİONS OF INDİVİDUALS WHO PLAY ACTİVE SPORT

Study Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the nutritional habits and supportive use of individuals who are actively involved in sports. Methods: The research was carried out in the sample of 170 active sports students at Nigde Omer Halisdemir University. As part of the research, the data collection tool named “Nutrition Habits and Supplementary Product Use Survey” developed by Yucel (2017) was used. 95 male and 75 female athletes participated in the study. 51 of the athletes participating in the research perform team 119 of individual sports. Results: According to the research findings, it was concluded that athletes pay attention to their nutrition and use their support products consciously.

Supply Analysis of Supplementary Products in Poland

Purpose: The paper aims to conduct studies that will enable identifying the supplementary products' categories offered in the market and, in consequence, determining the structure of the supplementary product's market in terms of the supply of supplementary products in the market. Methodology: The elaboration authors conducted studies in Poland covering all 86,849 products in the market from 2007 to 2019*. The studies featured a statistical analysis of the type, quantity, and dynamics of product registration in the market. The Kruskal-Wallis test was also conducted to demonstrate the distribution of submissions in terms of the identified supplementary product categories and structural similarity index. Findings: The structure of the Polish supplementary products market was determined based on the conducted analysis. The distributions were determined, and the structural similarity indices were designated. Thereby, it was possible to obtain answers to the manufacturer's reactions to the demand for supplementary products reported by individual consumers. Practical Implications: For many years, it is possible to observe increasing demand among individual consumers worldwide for such products as dietary supplements, fortified foods, and special purpose foods. There is a justified need to produce and consume such products. Hys has conducted studies that allowed to determine that the subject literature mainly presents the results of research on nutrition dietetics and medical dietetics and derivative. On the other hand, the subject literature on management sciences features results mainly concerning individual reasons and preferences of consumer decisions related to these products' consumption. Due to the above, the authors of the paper, by analysing the widespread phenomenon of supplementary products' consumption, propose expanding analyzing areas with a new perspective. Originality/Value: The authors, by analyzing the widespread phenomenon of supplementary products' consumption, proposed expanding the research area with a new perspective. This especially concerns the manufacturers' perspective, including the analysis of the supplementary product market's growth dynamics.

Switching costs in competitive health insurance markets: The role of insurers' pricing strategies.

Our article deals with pricing strategies in Swiss health insurance markets and focuses on the relationship between basic and supplementary insurance. We analyzed how firms' pricing strategies (i.e., pricing of basic and supplementary products) can create switching costs in basic health insurance markets, thereby preventing competition in basic insurance from working properly. More specifically, using unique market and survey data, we investigated whether firms use bundling strategies or supplementary products as low‐price products to attract and retain basic insurance consumers. To our knowledge, this is the first paper to analyze these pricing strategies in the context of insurance/health insurance. We found no evidence of bundling in the Swiss setting. We did however observe that firms used low‐price supplementary products that contributed to lock in consumers. A majority of firms offered at least one of such product at a low price. None offered low‐price products in both basic and supplementary markets. Low‐price insurance products differed across firms. When buying a low‐price supplementary product, consumers always bought their basic contract from the same firm. Furthermore, those who opted for low‐price supplementary products were less likely to declare an intention to switch basic insurance firms in the near future. This result was true for all risk category levels.

A BIOPROCESS DEVELOPMENT STUDY OF POLYPHENOL PROFILE, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF KOMBUCHA ENRICHED WITH Psidium guajava L.

Kombucha has become a flavored tea drink fermented with a symbiotic community of fungi, yeast, and bacteria. Kombucha has been reported to show functional medicinal importance attributed to the presence of some critical metabolites and bioactive compounds. We developed kombucha on three different substrates like black tea, green tea, and Psidium guajava (guava) juice extract. Kombucha enriched with guava extract showed maximal growth in terms of weight (fresh and dry) and moisture percentage. Further, the total phenol, total flavonoid, and characterization of different phenolic compounds like gallic acid, catechin, guaiacol and coumaric acid with guava juice extract fermented kombucha exhibiting maximal production. Also, the high DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) radical scavenging activity over the control. The kombucha tea fermented on guava extract showed significant antimicrobial activity against eleven human pathogenic bacterial strains and four pathogenic fungi. From the current study, we conclude that the preparation of kombucha tea using guava juice extract might be used as a supplementary food product due to its high nutritional value.

Framing a promotional offer as free-with-purchase or as a bundle? The perspective of information salience

PurposeBased on the concept of information salience, the research investigates the factors that might drive potential differences in consumers' preferences between offers framed as free with purchase or as a bundle.Design/methodology/approachFour experiments examined how participants' preferences for bundled offers or free-with-purchase offers varied as a function of the perceived benefits to be obtained from the supplementary products (studies 1a and 1b) and identified participants' sensitivity to the price of the supplementary component as a mediator of the framing effect of a promotional offer (study 2) and the provision of information facilitating the drawing of comparisons as the boundary condition constraining the effectiveness of a free-with-purchase offer (study 3).FindingsResults show that a bundled offer is preferable to a free-with-purchase offer when the supplementary product provides a high-level rather than a low-level benefit and identify price sensitivity as an underlying mechanism behind the observed effect. Furthermore, consumers' sensitivity to the value of the focal product in the deal brought to their attention by comparative information makes a fair charge for a relatively unattractive component the preferable offer.Originality/valueWhile much of the existing published research on bundled offers focuses on the assigning of discounts to individual products in the bundle, this study adds to the body of knowledge by showing that variation in perceived benefits is the key driver of different responses to a free-with-purchase offer versus a bundled offer.

Switching Costs in Competitive Health Insurance Markets: The Role of Insurer’s Pricing Strategies

Our article deals with pricing strategies in Swiss health insurance markets and focuses on the relationship between basic and supplementary insurance. We analyzed how firms’ pricing strategies (i.e., pricing of basic and supplementary products) can create switching costs in basic health insurance markets, thereby preventing competition in basic insurance from working properly. More specifically, using unique market and survey data, we investigated whether firms use bundling strategies or supplementary products as low-price products to attract and retain basic insurance consumers. To our knowledge, this is the first paper to analyze these pricing strategies in the context of insurance/health insurance. We found no evidence of bundling in the Swiss setting. We did however observe that firms used low-price supplementary products that contributed to lock in consumers. A majority of firms offered at least one of such product at a low price. None offered low-price products in both basic and supplementary markets. Low-price insurance products differed across firms. When buying a low-price supplementary product, consumers always bought their basic contract from the same firm. Furthermore, those who opted for low-price supplementary products were less likely to declare an intention to switch basic insurance firms in the near future. This result was true for all risk category levels.

Effect of Nutritional Support Containing Arginine, Glutamine and β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate on the Protein Balance in Patients with Major Burns.

To evaluate the effect of a supplementary nutritional product containing arginine, glutamine and β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) on the nutritional parameters of patients with major burns. In a total of 40 patients with major burns treated in the Burns Unit, standard nutritional support was administered to 20 patients, and the study product was added to the standard nutritional support of the remaining 20 patients. The biochemical laboratory test results and burn severity were recorded on the first day of treatment and on Days 14 and 28. The 40 patients were divided as the study and the control group, and their results were compared. An increase in the albumin, prealbumin and total protein values in the group administered with the study product was found to be statistically significant compared to the control group (p=0.021, p=0.02, p<0.001, respectively). The decreases in haemoglobin and C-reactive protein (CRP) were at the levels expected in burn trauma. The results obtained in this study demonstrated that the addition of arginine, glutamine and HMB to the nutrition of patients with burns had a positive effect on the protein balance.

Платформенные модели бизнеса: подходы к созданию

&lt;span&gt; Платформенные модели бизнеса являются важнейшей составляющей цифровой экономики, они ведут к трансформации и подрыву многих отраслей, меняют конкуренцию и одновременно становятся фактором роста компаний. Наиболее сложные, но и привлекательные, с позиций инновационного развития, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="myHorizontalScaleForEmDashSpaceAfter"&gt;– &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;многосторонние платформы, где представлены несколько типов участников, между которыми формируются непростые взаимодействия, охватывающие систему распространения и потребления платформенных продуктов, разработку дополняющих продуктов, процессы совместного создания ценности и использования активов платформы. В статье обсуждаются методические аспекты создания многосторонних платформ с акцентом на три составляющих: участники платформы, их роли и взаимодействия; платформенное мышление; подходы к монетизации деятельности платформы. Предлагается матрица формирования платформы, которая включает основные типы участников и ключевые аспекты платформенного взаимодействия.&lt;/span&gt;

Physicochemical Contents, Antioxidant Activities, and Acute Toxicity Assessment of Selenium-Enriched Chinese Kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra L.) Seedlings

The oxidative activities of hydroponically produced Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra L.) seedlings grown under different concentrations of selenium (Se) biofortification with sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 30 mg·Se/L and different ages (5, 10, and 15 days after germination) were determined by the electron transfer method (DPPH and FTC). Highest antioxidant activities of Se-enriched Chinese kale seedlings (Se-KS) were found in seedlings grown on 30 mg·Se/L, 15 days after germination. The physicochemical contents (moisture, crude fibre, ash, crude protein, and carbohydrate), total Se contents, and Se bioaccessibility and antioxidant activities (after treatment with an in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion process) between Se-KS and a control of regular Chinese kale seedlings (R-KS) were compared. The crude protein and total Se contents of the air-dried matter in Se-KS were higher (37 ± 1% and 433 ± 22 mg·Se/kg) than those of the R-KS (33 ± 2% and 17 ± 3 mg·Se/kg). Total Se content and antioxidant activities were strongly correlated in the range from 0.93 to 0.99. Testing acute toxicity, a single dose of the Se-KS was orally administrated to rats at 1250, 2500, and 5000 mg/kg·b.w., which consisted of 0.54, 1.08, and 2.16 mg Se/kg·b.w., respectively. These results demonstrated that Se-KS did not create any toxicological signs and mortality. No abnormal pathological changes in the liver, kidney, and heart were found. The results suggested that the Se-KS could be a good source of organo Se for development as a new Se supplementary product.

Demand Analysis of a Supplementary Food Product for Infants

Demand Analysis of a Supplementary Food Product for Infants

The effects of promotional package frames and price strategies on inaction inertia

AbstractInaction inertia is the phenomenon in which people are less likely to accept a less attractive opportunity after having missed a relatively more attractive one. Previous studies have mainly explored the inaction inertia effect on single products or services, whereas this study explored how the promotional frames of sales packages influence inaction inertia toward the individual items within the sales packages and the inaction inertia effect of the target product under different price strategies. On the basis of the cost assignments of mental accounting and comparisons of the current inferior promotion with missed superior promotion, this study found evidence that when consumers encounter a freebie (bundle) condition, they assign a higher cost to the focal (supplementary) product and a lower cost to the supplementary (focal) product. Therefore, consumers who have missed a freebie (bundle) promotion exhibit lower (higher) inaction inertia toward the focal product, but higher (lower) inaction inertia toward the supplementary product. Applying a similar internal mechanism to pricing strategies, the findings also show that when consumers encounter a two‐component sales package with a surcharge promotion using a partitioned price (vs. a price discount promotion using an all‐inclusive price), they assign a higher cost to the base product and a lower cost to the surcharge. So, consumers who have missed the surcharge (vs. price discount) promotion show higher inaction inertia when the surcharge of the current inferior opportunity is salient, but show less inaction inertia when it is not salient. Moreover, the percent of a surcharge as a part of the total package value moderates the impact of promotional price strategy frames on inaction inertia. These findings have significant implications for both theoreticians and practitioners interested in inaction inertia, promotional frames, and price strategies.

Effect of Attribute Complementarity on Consumers' Willingness to Pay for Bundled Products

In a sales context, a common promotional tactic is to supplement a required purchase (i.e., the focal product) by offering a free product (i.e., the supplementary product). We examined the underlying mechanism driving consumers' evaluation of the supplementary product after such a promotion, with 120 undergraduate student participants at a large public university in Taiwan. Results showed that consumers demonstrated higher (lower) willingness to pay for a supplementary product that had higher (lower) levels of attribute complementarity with the focal product. However, this effect occurred only when the price of the focal product was much higher than consumer's internal reference price for the supplementary product. Our findings contribute to the literature on bundled products, reference price theory, and consumers' postpromotion perception of supplementary products' price. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.

Tying and bundling in the digital era

ABSTRACTHardly any doctrine of competition law has been modified more significantly by digitization than tying and bundling. While it was originally developed for the combined sale of two products, this concept was recently applied to cases like software integration or the prioritized display in search engine rankings. Against this backdrop, this paper seeks to shed some light on the reasons that let the concept of tying and bundling evolve in the digital context. On the basis of Post-Chicago School concepts, it is argued that digital markets are particularly vulnerable to tying and bundling practices. This led to a broadening of the scope of the doctrine of tying and bundling: It may be applied to all cases where consumers are nudged to demand a supplementary product, thereby foreclosing the market for this supplementary product. In the context of digital markets, the doctrine tying and bundling thus evolved into a general theory of leveraging.

Enhancing the parasitism of insect herbivores through diversification of habitat in Philippine rice fields

The diversification of farming landscapes is proposed as a method to increase farm productivity while at the same time enhancing pest regulation services provided by the natural enemies of insect herbivores. In this study, areas of diversified and conventional rice fields (with 2–14 fields per area = 0.42–1.31 ha) were established at three sites in the Philippines. The diversified areas had a series (> 40 per hectare) of small (< 2 m2) vegetable patches interspersed along rice bunds (levees). The abundance of planthopper and lepidopteran pests in these areas was monitored during two consecutive cropping seasons using sweep nets with rice yield and damage recorded at the end of each season. Mortality of brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) and yellow stemborer (Scirpophaga incertulas) eggs was monitored through field exposures of infested rice plants. There were no differences in rice yields between the conventional and diversified areas; however, a range of vegetables were produced as a supplementary product from the diversified rice areas. Diversification had no effect on planthopper or leaffolder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis) abundance at the sites. Adult stemborers (Scirpophaga incertulas) were more abundant in the diversified areas; however, stemborer damage was similar between area treatments in both years. Vegetable patches did not increase parasitism of planthopper eggs; however, egg parasitism was highest close to the vegetable patches, suggesting that egg parasitoids interacted with the patches. Mortality of stemborer eggs was higher in the diversified areas than in the conventional areas. Parasitism due to Trichogramma japonicum and other egg parasitoids was also higher in the diversified areas. These results indicate the potential for vegetable patches to enhance the biological control services provided by egg parasitoids in rice fields; however, the study also indicates a need to carefully select vegetable crops that avoid any potential benefits for rice pests. We discuss the need for further research into diversified farms as a means of achieving sustainable rice production in Asia.

Future of Indian Auto Industry: Choices and Challenges

This study lays out the technological opportunities that stand in front of the Indian auto industry, with focus on the passenger vehicles, limited to cars. It attempts to understand the levers that will influence adoption of emerging new technologies and aims to explain the choices that will be pursued by the Indian auto players. The opportunities include connectivity, electrified powertrains, autonomous vehicles, and industry 4.0. Clearly Government regulations and market pull are the most important factors that will influence auto OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) to venture away from their traditional models of business. Interviews with leaders in the industry have revealed that they would be forced to make a move towards gradual electrification of their fleet to keep in tune with the changing market context. The challenge for OEMs will be in creating the necessary market pull for electric vehicles despite the current product and eco-system challenges. Electrification will be the major focus once the challenge of BS VI implementation is completed. Though the other technologies like connectivity, autonomy, shared mobility etc. will gain importance, these would-be parts of supplementary product attributes that will help attract customers and will not be the major proposition by themselves in isolation. The government also strongly needs to keep itself in check in nudging the Industry towards a certain direction. It must withstand the temptation to take decisions on behalf of the industry and let the market forces decide which technology/opportunity should be adopted. We end by proposing a policy direction for the government which uses a weighted average based emission standard for every manufacturer.

Development, characterization and determination of biological properties of crocodile hemoglobin (Crocodylus siamensis ) tablets

Recently, several biological properties of Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) hemoglobin (Hb) and its hydrolysate have been discovered. In light of these findings, this study exploring the physical properties and biological activity of C. siamensis Hb tablets is disclosed. Notably, all derived tablet formulations of crocodile Hb were proven to possess antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Investigation of long-term stability indicated mild storage temperature of only 4°C is adequate to maintain full biological activity for more than 3 months. Scanning electron microscopy further revealed induction of abnormalities on bacterial cell membranes upon treatment with tableted crocodile Hb. Digestion of crocodile Hb tablets with artificial gastric juice was found non-significant differences on the antibacterial activity between the digested Hb tablets and intact Hb. Using C18 RP-HPLC purification followed by N-terminal sequence analysis, four active peptides originating from the alpha and six from the beta chain of native crocodile Hb were identified. Practical applications Several studies demonstrated that crocodile hemoglobin (Hb) possesses various biological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and wound healing activity. Hence, this article aims to develop crocodile hemoglobin as food supplementary tablets. Various crocodile Hb tablet formulations have been prepared. After that, the possibility for using tableted crocodile Hb as a food supplement has been investigated in detail. The outcome obtained from this study justified that the development of crocodile Hb tablets provide a protein rich food supplementary product with promising biological activity.