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This study explored the combined administration of docetaxel (DOC) and erlotinib (ERL) using nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), with folic acid (FA) conjugation to enhance their synergistic anticancer efficacy against triple-negative breast cancer. NLCs were developed through hot melt homogenization–ultrasound dispersion, and optimized by a quality-by-design (QbD) approach using Plackett–Burman design and Box–Behnken design. Plots were generated based on maximum desirability. Spherical, nanosized dispersions (<200 nm) with zeta potential ranging from −16.4 to −14.15 mV were observed. These nanoformulations demonstrated ~95% entrapment efficiency with around 5% drug loading. Stability tests revealed that the NLCs remained stable for 6 months under storage conditions at 4 °C. In vitro release studies indicated sustained release over 24 h, following Higuchi and Korsmeyer–Peppas models for NLCs and FA NLCs, respectively. Additionally, an in vitro pH-stat lipolysis model exhibited a nearly fivefold increase in bioaccessibility compared to drug-loaded suspensions. The DOC–ERL-loaded formulations exhibited dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity, revealing synergism at a 1:3 molar ratio in MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells, with combination indices of 0.35 and 0.37, respectively. Co-treatment with DOC–ERL-loaded FA NLCs demonstrated synergistic anticancer effects in various in vitro assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are one of the most abundant metal oxides nanoparticles. It provides excellent thermal, electrical and chemical stabilities with low biotoxicity; its photo-oxidising and photo-catalytic impact on biological and chemical species is of great importance, thereby making it a promising candidate to be used for in vitro and in vivo studies in biomedical field. Hereby, ZnO NPs were synthesized using precipitation method with zinc acetate and sodium hydroxide as starting materials. This study has characterized the synthesized ZnO NPs using different techniques such as UV-Visible spectroscopy indicating a peak at 365 nm wavelength, size of ZnO NPs was determined to be 286.7 nm by measuring hydrodynamic radii using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) phenomena. Further predominant charge existing at surface of the synthesised ZnO NPs was evaluated to be 31.6 mV. Anti-microbial activity of ZnO NPs was determined by Kirby-Bauer method for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. Anti-microbial activity was determined as Zone of Inhibition that measures both bactericidal and bacteriostatic activity of ZnO NPs and was found to be more potent for Gram-positive (S. aureus) bacteria and its activity increased with increasing concentration of nanoparticles. Growth kinetics was studied to determine percentage growth inhibition, for this optical density was recorded as a function of time in bacterial culture broth with and without treatment. Further DNA fragmentation assay was performed to determine genotoxicity caused by nanoparticles and its effect on genomic DNA of bacteria. Highlighting its potential role as a nano-carrier system for leading antibacterial drugs for enhanced effectiveness of the antibacterial therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the course of the food supply chain, approximately one-quarter of the food produced for human consumption is thrown away. According to the World Food Waste Survey, food waste created at the household level accounts for almost half of the total food waste. A growing number of people are becoming concerned about food security and environmental consequences, such as resource depletion and greenhouse gas emissions associated with food waste. This has heightened public awareness of the issue. Despite the fact that food waste happens at every level of the food supply chain, private households have been recognized as being the primary source of food waste production. However, there is currently a lack of studies about the factors that influence consumer food waste behavior. This paper presents a twofold study. In the first section, this paper maps drivers of food waste at household level along with the remedies backed by extensive literature review. In the second section, this study identifies factors which are responsible for food waste in social gathering with special reference to weddings along with solutions to prevent food waste in the context to social gathering through systematically reviewing empirical studies on food waste practices. The results of the study demonstrate that food waste is a complex and multi-faceted issue that cannot be reduced to a single variable; as a result, a more comprehensive integration of multiple academic viewpoints is required. The mapping of the factors of waste creation allows for a more in-depth knowledge of household habits, party organizers' practices, guest behaviors toward food, and the development of food waste control policies. Finally, we connect the factors that have been found with formulation of policy, business, and social responsibilities. This study will be a value addition in the existing pool of literature concerned with responsible consumption and sustainable practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extensively researched and refined relationship between service quality and customer loyalty has found recognition under a wide variety of colloquiums and contexts. Service quality is conspicuous for its eminence in customer loyalty formulation in marketing literature rich with both relevant theoretical and empirical evidences (Boulding et al., 1993; Parasuraman et al., 1991; Zeithaml et al., 1996). Studies have primarily investigated and established its impact over various dimensions of loyalty manifesting into repurchases, revisits, recommendations, etc. However, investigations into the association of service quality with individual dimensions of customer loyalty and the probable interaction effects affecting the shape or strength of such associations are clearly sparse. The present paper aims at exploring and establishing the link between service quality and a two dimensional model of customer loyalty with reference to the life insurance industry in India. Further, it intends to review the relationship of customer loyalty with its prominent precursors - trust and customer satisfaction with a new perspective. A conceptual research proposition encompassing the effect of service quality on attitudinal and behavioral dimensions of customer loyalty along with the potential interaction effects of trust and customer satisfaction in these relationships has been tested and presented by the study with intent to bring in fresh propositions and perspectives. The findings support the presence of these effects and call for approaching the goal of customer loyalty development with due consideration to the desired outcomes and the conditions required for cultivating them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isomerism or Heterotaxy syndromes are rare multifaceted congenital anomalies with multi-system involvement. Grouped under the broad category of Situs Ambiguous defects, these often pose diagnostic difficulties due to their varied and confusing anatomy. Since patients rarely survive into adulthood due to cardiovascular complications, the etiology and natural history of such conditions are not fully understood. Imaging provides the most accurate non invasive method for diagnosis and thereby, prognosis in such cases. We present a case of right sided Isomerism with complex cardiac anomalies in a 17 year old adolescent, who presented with dysphagia as one of the main complaints. Multi modality imaging demonstrated the intricate abnormalities in vital systems.