Effect of Microwave Power and Time on Total Phenolic Contents and Antioxidant Characteristics of Microwave Assisted Extracts of Watermelon Rind Powder Microwave Assisted Extracts of Watermelon Rind Powder

Watermelon is gaining importance as a functional food due to its therapeutic effect. The therapeutic effect of watermelon has been reported and has been attributed to antioxidant constitutes. The major component in watermelon rind is citrulline that has a strong antioxidant effect which protect body from free-radical damage. Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of microwave powers (150 W, 300 W & 450 W) and time intervals (1, 3 & 5 minutes) on total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant characteristics i.e. DPPH and ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) of microwave assisted extracts of watermelon rind powder. Methods: The extracts collected after Microwave assisted extraction (MAE) of watermelon rind wereanalyzed for their antioxidant potential through different tests including total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), DPPH assayand FRAP. Results: Microwave assisted extraction by using ethanol as a solvent at different microwave powers and various time intervals showed that total antioxidant potential was significantly higher at low microwave power such as TPC ranges obtained at 150W for 1, 3 & 5 minutes of time intervals show ranges (159.84, 160.04 & 169.71 mg GAE/100 g). While TFC ranges at 150W for time 1, 3 & 5 minutes were (21.31, 24.15 & 42.20 mg CEQ/100g) whereas DPPH ranges at 150W for time 1, 3 & 5 minutes were (53.14, 54.87 & 68.17 % ascorbic acid inhibition) and FRAP values at 150W for time 1, 3 & 5 minutes were (201.71, 221.50 & 326.43 mg FE/100g). While high microwave power 450W can result in disruption of some antioxidants at various time intervals. Conclusions: Watermelon rind is a rich source of many antioxidants andmicrowave assisted extraction technique should be implemented in the food and nutraceutical industries and microwave assisted extracts of watermelon rind should be utilize for the development of new functional food to combat many health related problems

Psychological Determinants of Subjective Well-Being Among Women With Infertility

The current research project aimed at exploring psychosocial determinants of subjective well-being among Pakistani women with primary infertility and was carried out in two parts. In part1 (study1) psychosocial experiences of Pakistani women with primary infertility were explored and analyzed through Thematic Analysis (TA). Semi structured interviews from twelve women with primary infertility were conducted. The detailed analysis of the result showed four major themes (personal incapacities, emotional burden, social distress, and coping). Part II comprised of four studies. In study 2, Social Comparison Scale (SCS: Allan & Gilbert, 1995), Submissive Behaviour Scale (SBS:Allan & Gilbert, 1997), and Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS: Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999) were translated into Urdu language to be used subsequently in this research. The validity and reliability of the scales were established. Study III and IV were carried out to develop and validate two scales to measure social rank variables (viz., Social Comparison Scale for Women with Infertility (SCS-WI) and Submissive Behavior Scale for Women with Infertility (SBS-WI). Item generation was done by using the data obtained from part I (study1) and also by consulting the relevant literature. The factor structure of 37 items of SCS-WI and of 21 items SBS-WI was determined through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on a sample of 215 women with primary infertility with age range from 20-45(Mage= 31.03; SD= 6.18) years. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation method yielded three factors, and 32 items were retained for SCSWI that accounted for 62.38% variance and 20 items were retained for SBS-WI which collectively accounted for 42.01 % variance. The factor structure for both scales were conformed via CFA on a separate sample of (N=210) Pakistani women with primary infertility. Study 5 was carried out to find out psychosocial determinants of different dimensions of subjective well being on a sample of (231) Pakistani women with primary infertility. Stepwise regression analysis showed social comparison, emotional intelligence, insecure attachment and education as salient predictors of depression (R2 = .26**, **p < .01). Social support, social comparison, education and insecure attachment as salient predictors of happiness (R2 = .39**, p < .01). Social comparison, emotional intelligence, social support and age as salient predictors of satisfaction with life (R2 = .49**p < .01). Meditational analysis was carried out using AMOS 21.0 through Structural Equation Modeling. Social comparison and submissive behavior partially mediated the relationship between insecure attachment, depression and satisfaction with life whereas fully mediated the relationship between insecure attachment and happiness. Social rank was found to partially mediate the relationship between insecure attachment and depression whereas, social rank fully mediated the relationship between insecure attachment, happiness and satisfaction with life. Partial mediation of social rank, social comparison and submissive behavior was found between social support , happiness and satisfaction with life, whereas full mediation of social rank, social comparison and submissive behavior was found between social support and depression. Emotional intelligence was found to partially mediate the relationship between insecure attachment and depression and fully mediate the relationship between insecure attachment, happiness and satisfaction with life. Emotional intelligence was found to partially mediate the relationship between social support, depression, happiness and satisfaction with life. The MANOVA was used to study the group differences among age, education, duration of infertility and income levels showing that women with infertility with lesser age, less duration of infertility, high education, and high income levels experience higher subjective wellbeing. Implications of the research were discussed.