A Quantitative Study of Risk Scores and the Effectiveness of AI-Based Cybersecurity Awareness Training Programs

Cybersecurity awareness training plays a dynamic role for organizations in certifying resources\u27 accessibility. This paper determines the correlation between an employee\u27s risk score and the effectiveness of AI-based security awareness training that deals with cyber threats. The research uses the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology to update prior research, revealing that at-risk employees\u27 behavior and information security awareness training implementation make up successful interventions. However, those studies did not discuss AI training, and so this research fills that literature gap. This study used a quantitative research design. The researcher analyzed survey responses using Pearson\u27s Correlation and an independent t-test to determine statistically significant relationships and differences between employees\u27 risk scores and an AI-based security awareness training programs\u27 effectiveness. The calculations came from a sample of 200 participants from two different organizations. The Pearson product correlation of employee\u27s risk scores and the effectiveness of the security awareness training program was statistically significant. The researcher also conducted an independent-samples t-test to compare the employees\u27 risk scores by gender. There were no significant differences in scores. Male was higher than female ones. The mean difference was minimal. The findings herein help interpret the role of information security awareness training in the workplace, promoting behavioral changes that would impede data violations by including the users\u27 vulnerability and the severity of intimidation, and the response to a threat in prognosticating behavior intentions

Prevention of Phishing Attacks Using AI-Based Cybersecurity Awareness Training

Machine learning has been described as an effective measure in avoiding most cyberattacks. The development of AI has therefore promoted increased security for most computer attacks. Phishing attacks are risky and can be prevented through AI-based solutions. This factor suggests the need for increased awareness of cybersecurity through AI. Developing awareness for most people will prevent these types of attacks. The research paper describes how the awareness of AI-based cybersecurity could ensure a reduction of phishing attacks. The paper, therefore, showcases the effectiveness of AI-based cybersecurity awareness training and how it may influence cyber-attacks

Determination of Mental Stress Effects on the Cognitive Function in Medical Students of LUMHS at the time of Examination

BACKGROUND: Cognition function refers to memory, the ability to learn new information, language, and reading conception. Mental stress may disrupt cognitive function. The medical students are exposed frequently to emotional disturbance and stress and these may adversely affect the cognition. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the extent of impairment of cognitive function due to mental stress during examination of medical students by implicates the application of Stroop test. STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional comparative study SETTING: The study was conducted at the Department of Physiology LUMHS Jamshoro over 6 months duration from August 2015 to February 2016. METHODOLOGY: The volunteer information brochures / leaflets were posted on the main notice board of the LUMHS campus. Total 150 participants (n=100 having their examination within a week, n=50 not preparing for examination) were selected by simple random sampling technique. All four test of Stroop test were performed (Power lab T-125 AD-instrument australia) and time taken by participants were noted and compared between both groups. RESULTS: Breathing rate, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between two groups. The differences in the results of all four test for Stroop effect; Monochrome reading, color naming, reading color words and color naming were highly significant between those having their examination ahead (group A) within one week and those having no examination ahead (group B). Congruent Stroop test – exercise 1 and 2 showed significant differences for time domain per single word in group A and B respectively. Incongruent Stroop test showed time per single word of 2.3000 vs. 1.7500 seconds in exercise 3 (t-value 23.13, p-value 0.0001). Time taken per single word was noted as 2.1000 vs. 1.6100 seconds in exercise 3 (t-value 16.56, p-value 0.0001). CONCLUSION: As the results showed increased reaction time and interferences for Stroop effect among medical students under examination stress, it may be concluded that the mental stress adversely affects the cognitive functions

Genetic Characterization of Carbapenem Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in Tertiary care settings of Lahore, Pakistan

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii is major cause of ventilator associated pneumoniae (VAP) as it is an opportunistic nosocomial organism. The current study was to find out the antibiotic resistance pattern of Acinetobacter baumannii, its phenotype and the genetic characterization of Metallo-β-Lactamase (MBL) genes that are responsible for carbapenem resistance.Methods: One hundred and fifty Carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) specimens were isolated and PCR amplification of organism specific bla-OXA-51gene was performed and antibiotic susceptibility was checked. Phenotypic susceptibility analysis was performed by Modified Hodge Test (MHT) and Imipenem-EDTA Double Disc Synergy Test (IMP-EDTA DDST). The carbapenemases and MBL producing genes were amplified by PCR.Results: CRAB showed high resistance against piperacillin/tazobactam (99.3%), cefepime and ceftazidime (99.3% each), amikacin (91.3%), ciprofloxacin (96.7%) and levofloxacin (96.7%). Only one isolate showed resistance to colistin. The isolates positive for both MHT and DDST (n=70) were further characterized to detect metallo-β-lactamase genes. Molecular characterization revealed the presence of bla-OXA-51 gene in all tested isolates (100%) followed by bla-VIM 89%, bla-OXA-23 64%, respectively and so on. Few genes coexisted with each other including bla VIM, bla OXA 23, bla OXA 51 and bla NDM-1.  None of the isolate was found positive for bla-IMP gene.Conclusion: It is concluded that CRAB isolates exhibited a high rate of resistance towards antimicrobials because of the presence of drug hydrolyzing enzymes, carbapenemases and MBLs. This is among the rare study reported recently indicating CRAB isolates co-harboring many resistant genes are very difficult to treat. There is a dire need to develop novel antibiotics against resistant A. baumannii to minimize its prevalence. Moreover, it is recommended that colistin treatment in the clinical settings should be continuously monitored in order to prevent the development of resistance

Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activity of bark of Gardenia latifolia

Gardenia latifolia (Rubiaceae) is commonly known as Indian boxwood or Ceylon boxwood, is a densely foliaceous small tree that occurs throughout the greater parts of Indian common in deciduous forests along the streams. The stem bark and fruits are reported to be used in the treatment of various ailments such as snake bite, skin diseases, stomach pains, caries in humans and ephemeral fever in live stocks. Many beneficial medicinal products are used to treat various serious diseases and disorders like diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases without side effects. Hence our study focused to investigate the phytochemical analysis, quantification of bioactive compounds, in vitro free radical scavenging activity (DPPH radical method), anti-inflammatory activity (Carrageenan induced hind paw oedema ), in vitro anti-diabetic activity by enzyme inhibition activity of bark of Gardenia latifolia (hydroalcoholic extract) which has boundless medicinal properties. The results of this study showed the evidence that the extracts when tested for their phytochemicals and free radical scavenging activity were found to have considerable antioxidant potential. This plant also exhibit better in vitro enzyme inhibitory activity and anti-inflammatory activity. The results of this study indicate that the hydroalcoholic extract of Gardenia latifolia bark has significant pharmacological properties. Keywords: Gardenia latifolia, Phytochemical analysis, DPPH radical method, Anti-inflammatory activity, Anti-diabetic activit

Bacterial contamination of Saudi Arabian paper currency: A report from Al-Kharj

Background: Currency is a public support tool for exchange of commodity and services. It’s prevalent practice for acquiring bread to broast and bath to bed has connected all human being together irrespective of race and occupation. Currency notes along with their denomination values also carry pathogens if contaminated and will act as an agent for infection transference. Therefore the objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the load microbial pathogens of paper currency collected in selected public places of Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.Methods: Currency notes under study were assessed through microbiological culture, microscopic and biochemical visualization techniques.Results: The results from this cross-sectional study suggested that lower the currency denominations higher was the microbial contaminations, frequency percentage was lower with higher isolations. Small eateries were the biggest source of contaminated currency from the ten selected centres. Percentage microorganism occurrence for Bacillus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Klebsiella sp. and E. coli was 56.84%, 25.03%, 13.40% and 04.71% respectively in all currency notes under study.Conclusions: The outcomes of this study revealed that currency notes can be a source for microbe transmission causing infectious diseases represent public health hazards to the community and individuals

2D nanostructures: Potential in diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials have garnered enormous attention seemingly due to their unusual architecture and properties. Graphene and graphene oxide based 2D nanomaterials remained the most sought after for several years but the quest to design superior 2D nanomaterials which can find wider application gave rise to development of non-graphene 2D materials as well. Consequently, in addition to graphene based 2D nanomaterials, 2D nanostructures designed using macromolecules (such as DNAs, proteins, peptides and peptoids), transition metal dichalcogenides, transition-metal carbides and/or nitrides (MXene), black phosphorous, chitosan, hexagonal boron nitrides, and graphitic carbon nitride, and covalent organic frameworks have been developed. Interestingly, these 2D nanomaterials have found applications in diagnosis and treatment of various diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although AD is one of the most debilitating neurodegenerative conditions across the globe; unfortunately, there remains a paucity of effective diagnostic and/or therapeutic intervention for it till date. In this scenario, nanomaterial-based biosensors, or therapeutics especially 2D nanostructures are emerging to be promising in this regard. This review summarizes the diagnostic and therapeutic platforms developed for AD using 2D nanostructures. Collectively, it is worth mentioning that these 2D nanomaterials would seemingly provide an alternative and intriguing platform for biomedical interventions

Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci in Neonatal Blood: How Concerning?

Objective Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are being implicated as one of the leading causes of bloodstream infection (BSI). To study the spectrum, prevalence, and antimicrobial susceptibility of CoNS causing BSI in neonates. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was done in level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Blood samples in automated culture bottles were processed as per the standard technique. Previously validated methods were followed for the characterization of CoNS and for AST of standard antibiotics by Kirby Bauer disk diffusion and vancomycin by agar dilution. The prevalence of causative organisms and susceptibility of CoNS were statistically analyzed. Categorical variables were compared by chi-square or Fisher's exact probability tests. Result In total, 1,365 blood samples (1,365 neonates) were studied, of which 383 (28.05%) were positive and 982 (71.94%) were negative. Gram-positive organisms (GPC) predominated (n = 238; 62.14%) (p < 0.001) with 41.77% (160/383) S. aureus and 13.83% (53/383) CoNS. CoNS included S. epidermidis (19, 38%), S. haemolyticus (7, 14%), S. hominis (6, 12%), S. simulans (6,12%), S. capitis (5,10%), S. cohnii (4, 8%), S. warneri (1, 2%), and S. xylosus (1, 2%). The susceptibility to netilmicin, linezolid, and vancomycin was 100% (p ≤ 0.001), and 54% (n = 27) had vancomycin MIC of 0.125 μg/mL but methicillin-resistant CoNS (MRCoNS) was 70%. Methicillin-susceptible (MS) CoNS had lower MIC of vancomycin (p < 0.05) than MRCoNS. Conclusion The spectrum of pathogens causing BSI in neonates is changing with predominance of GPC and among CoNS, S. epidermidis. Considerable proportion of MRCoNS with the emergence of MIC creep for vancomycin requires immediate attention

Antibiotic Sensitivity on Isolates from Diabetic And Non-Diabetic Population Based In Pattoki Punjab

Objectives: To isolate and characterizing microorganisms from diabetic and non-diabetic patients and assessing the antimicrobial activity of isolate extracts from Citrus sinensis and Psidium guajava.  Methodology: Experimental study of one year and six month duration from May 2016 to May 2018 conducted in Microbiology Laboratory University of Lahore, Pakistan. Convenient sampling was done by collecting the urine sample at random from 250 persons in the Pattoki community. All the urine samples from diabetic and non-diabetics were cultured separately and after biochemical confirmation of microorganisms, the disc diffusion method was used for carrying out an antimicrobial activity. Results: A total of 105 samples, were found to have positive urine cultures. Among these positive urine culture samples, 75 were diabetic and 30 were non-diabetics. The bacterial isolate most commonly found among diabetics was E.coli followed by the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae,Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris respectively. Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of different parts of plant extracts against isolated bacteria from diabetics showed that the highest sensitivity was shown against peel, leaves and seed extracts of Citrus sinensis and Psidium guajava while the least sensitivity was shown against the stem and root extracts of these plants. Moreover, antibiotic sensitivity tests of isolated microbes showed that the highest resistance is found against Augmentin and Tetracycline while the most sensitive drug for isolates was found to be Chloramphenicol. Conclusion: From the results, it is concluded that leave extract of Psidium guajava and peel extracts of Citrus sinensis showed effective results against bacterial pathogens and could serve as a good alternate source of antibacterial agent

Antimicrobial, Antiproliferative and Antioxidant Activities of Eethanolic, Ethyl Acetate and Petroleum Ether Extracts of PsidiumGuajava Leaves

Background: To determine the antimicrobial, antiproliferativeand antioxidant activities of ethanolic,ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extracts ofPsidiumguajava leaves.Methods: The antimicrobial activity was assessedusing disc diffusion method on Staphylococcusaureus, Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumoniae,Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli andSalmonella typhi. The anti-proliferative activity wasdetermined on HeLa cell lines. The anti-proliferativeactivity was assessed using MTT assay whileantioxidant activity was determined using catalaseand superoxide dismutase (SOD) assays.Results: The MTT results indicate that ethyl acetateand petroleum ether extracts have significantlyinhibited the proliferation of HeLa cells as comparedto the control. Antioxidant assays showed thatcatalase activity was insignificant for all extractshowever the SOD activity was significant. All theextracts showed inhibitory zones against B. cereuswhile only ethanolic extract of P. guajava leaves wasactive against S. aureus.Conclusion: Psidiumguajava plant leaves extractscan be used as antiproliferative agent against HeLacell lin