Chemical Profiling and Bioactivities of Selective Organic Compounds from Fruits of Olea ferruginea and its Comparison with Olea europaea

This study evaluate the chemical profiling and bioactivities of selective organic compounds from fruits of Olea ferruginea and its comparison with Olea europaea from three unexplored locations of Pakistan. The oil was characterized into fatty acids by GC-MS and FT-IR. Antioxidant activities were detected by DPPH, ABTS and H₂O₂ scavenging bioassays. For cytotoxicity, Brine-Shrimp-Cytotoxicity-Bioassay was tested. The extracted oil was checked against five bacterial strains. Higher quantity of phytochemicals and yields of oil were present in fruit of Olea ferruginea collected from Malakand as compared to other locations. Prominent inhibitory activity against E.coli and S.aureus was observed during antibacterial assay. Good quality oil with antioxidant properties obtained from fruit of Olea ferruginea from Malakand. The comparative studies revealed the same qualitative composition of both species but Olea europaea showed greater oil-yield than Olea ferruginea. In consequence, the wild species Olea ferruginea was found to be economical, wild and drought tolerant. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

NEED OF 7S IN SERVICE OPERATION ENVIRONMENT AS COMPARED TO 5S AND 6S

Manufacturing companies distinguish themselves by their operational efficiency and the quality of their products. The 5S and 6S methodologies are commonly used in service operations to enhance efficiency and productivity. Although there are some similarities between these approaches and the 7S technique, there are also notable differences. The 7S technique can be applied in service operations to improve efficiency and productivity by focusing on the spirit element. This study analyzes the significance of the spirit element in the 7S technique and assesses the effectiveness of 5S, 6S, and 7S in service operations. Furthermore, it aims to identify the necessity of the 7S approach in organizations where 5S and 6S are already being used efficiently. The research employs a quantitative methodology and the results indicate that 60% to 79% of the respondents believe that spirit is a crucial aspect of the 7S technique and has positive outcomes. Encouraging a positive spirit can enhance teamwork, motivate and engage employees, and instill a sense of ownership among them. The 7S technique emphasizes an organization's shared values and culture, which can create a positive work environment, encourage employee engagement, improve communication, to lead to better performance

Characterization of Toxic Metals in Tobacco, Tobacco Smoke, and Cigarette Ash from Selected Imported and Local Brands in Pakistan

In this study, concentrations of Cd, Ni, Pb, and Cr were determined in tobacco, tobacco smoke-condensate, and cigarette ash for selected brands used in Pakistan. Smoking apparatus was designed for metal extraction from cigarette smoke. Samples were digested through microwave digester and then analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS). Higher concentration of Ni was detected in imported brands than the counterparts in the local brands. Pb levels were however higher in local brands while significant concentration of Cd was observed in both brands. For Cr, the level in tobacco of local brands was higher than their emitted smoke, whereas imported brands showed higher level in smoke than in tobacco. The cigarette ash retained 65 to 75% of the metal and about 25 to 30% went into the body. While this study revealed the serious requirement to standardize the manufacturing of tobacco products, more importantly is the urgent need for stronger enforcements to put in place to alert the general population about the hazardous effects of cigarettes and the health risks associated with these toxic metals

Development in Heavy Metal Ions Detection: Antimony-Hydroxyapatite Modified Electrodes Coupled with Square Wave Anodic Stripping Voltammetry

The occurrence of heavy metal ions in environmental matrices presents serious risks to human health and ecosystems. An electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous detection of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) ions in aqueous samples is presented in this study. The sensor was optimized through material composition, electrolyte, deposition, and electrochemical parameters using a modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) comprising hydroxyapatite (HAp) and antimony (Sb). Calibration studies showed high sensitivity (0.574 ± 0.32 ppb) and strong linearity (R2 = 0.993) for Pb detection. Repeated studies showed that the minimum standard deviation (RSD) was ±3.73%, confirming the reliability of the results. Real sample analysis of tap water with the developed method had less than 5% deviation in results as compared to results obtained from atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Furthermore, promising results were obtained from simultaneous detection of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions, thus the sensor showed reliability for practical applications

Increasing frailty is associated with higher prevalence and reduced recognition of delirium in older hospitalised inpatients: results of a multi-centre study

Purpose: Delirium is a neuropsychiatric disorder delineated by an acute change in cognition, attention, and consciousness. It is common, particularly in older adults, but poorly recognised. Frailty is the accumulation of deficits conferring an increased risk of adverse outcomes. We set out to determine how severity of frailty, as measured using the CFS, affected delirium rates, and recognition in hospitalised older people in the United Kingdom. Methods: Adults over 65 years were included in an observational multi-centre audit across UK hospitals, two prospective rounds, and one retrospective note review. Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), delirium status, and 30-day outcomes were recorded. Results: The overall prevalence of delirium was 16.3% (483). Patients with delirium were more frail than patients without delirium (median CFS 6 vs 4). The risk of delirium was greater with increasing frailty [OR 2.9 (1.8–4.6) in CFS 4 vs 1–3; OR 12.4 (6.2–24.5) in CFS 8 vs 1–3]. Higher CFS was associated with reduced recognition of delirium (OR of 0.7 (0.3–1.9) in CFS 4 compared to 0.2 (0.1–0.7) in CFS 8). These risks were both independent of age and dementia. Conclusion: We have demonstrated an incremental increase in risk of delirium with increasing frailty. This has important clinical implications, suggesting that frailty may provide a more nuanced measure of vulnerability to delirium and poor outcomes. However, the most frail patients are least likely to have their delirium diagnosed and there is a significant lack of research into the underlying pathophysiology of both of these common geriatric syndromes

Generation of infectious and non-infectious waste in abbottabad, Pakistan

This study is mainly concerned with the generation of solid waste and its management in the Ayub Medical Complex (AMC) Abbottabad. The hospital serves approximately 1600 to 1800 patients daily. This study provides the estimates of the quantity of different kinds of solid wastes produced and the current solid waste management situation at the hospital. The results indicate that approximate rate of solid waste generation is 464.7 kg day-1, which includes about 37.4 kg day-1i-e 8% of infectious solid waste, and 427.3 kg day-1i-e 92% of non-infectious waste. Besides this, the achievements of this study include the statistical data of solid waste on daily basis from all the departments, which was collected by the sampling at the point of generation. The mean generation rates were found to be 1.04 kg per patient per day. According to the results the highest waste generation of solid waste was observed in Gynae department that was nearly 118 kg day-1and lowest waste was observed in Psychiatry that was almost 0.2 kg day-1

Neurological involvement in patients with falciparum malaria: frequency and prognostic value

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of neurological manifestations in falciparum malaria. Methods We analyzed adult patients with malaria admitted from 2001 to 2003, diagnosed by asexual forms ofPlasmodium falciparum in peripheral blood films and identified cases of malaria with neurological involvement. A patient was classified as having neurological involvement if they reported or had one or more of the following symptoms; headache, altered mental status, seizures, neck rigidity, brisk reflexes, cranial neuropathy and hyper or hypotonia. Results A total of 454 patients were included in the study. Out of these, 123 (27%) were diagnosed as complicated (severe) malaria and 331 (73%) as uncomplicated malaria at admission. Overall 70 (15.4%) patients had evidence of neurological involvement at initial evaluation. Twenty-seven patients out of 123 (22%) with complicated malaria and 43 patients out of 331 (13%) with uncomplicated malaria had neurological involvement. Over all, 16 (4%) patients died, 13 (11%) had complicated malaria (n = 123) and 3 (1%) had uncomplicated malaria (n = 381). Mortality in patients having neurological involvement (n = 70) was 9 (13%) as compared to 7 (2%) in patients with malaria having no neurological involvement (n = 384). This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.012). Seizure was identified as predictor of mortality on Univariate analysis [OR 5.091 (1.835–14.121)]. Conclusion Fifteen percent of patients with falciparum malaria admitted to our hospital had neurological symptoms and neurological involvement was associated with increased mortality

Bismuth/hydroxyapatite-modified carbon screen-printed electrode for heavy-metal ion detection in aqueous media

Square-wave voltammetric stripping analysis is attractive for environmental monitoring and trace metal ion determination. The sensitivity is a result of analytes preconcentration steps on the electrode and advanced measurement procedures, where metal analytes are stripped away from the electrode at appropriate potential scan. Screen-printed electrode (SPE) has great advantages for in situ assays of heavy metal ions. Modification of SPE with bismuth (Bi) film improves the amalgamation of metal ions and the addition of hydroxyapatite (HA) increases the ion sorption, and enhances the current response due to the large porous structure and surface active sites for the metal ion binding. The ionization of the functional groups on the electrode surface upon contact with the aqueous system further assists the cation binding. The analytical performance of Bi and HA-modified SPE for simultaneous detection of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) was evaluated. Under the optimized electrochemical working conditions, calibration graph is linear for 240 s deposition time, in 0.1 M acetate buffer at pH 7.6 with the detection limit of 16.8 ppb for Pb(II). Two peaks corresponding to Cd(II) at -0.8 V and Pb(II) at -0.6 V can be discerned suggesting that Bi-HA modification had increased the current responses

Bismuth/hydroxyapatite-modified carbon screen-printed electrode for heavy-metal ion detection in aqueous media

Square-wave voltammetric stripping analysis is attractive for environmental monitoring and trace metal ion determination. The sensitivity is a result of analytes preconcentration steps on the electrode and advanced measurement procedures, where metal analytes are stripped away from the electrode at appropriate potential scan. Screen-printed electrode (SPE) has great advantages for in situ assays of heavy metal ions. Modification of SPE with bismuth (Bi) film improves the amalgamation of metal ions and the addition of hydroxyapatite (HA) increases the ion sorption, and enhances the current response due to the large porous structure and surface active sites for the metal ion binding. The ionization of the functional groups on the electrode surface upon contact with the aqueous system further assists the cation binding. The analytical performance of Bi and HA-modified SPE for simultaneous detection of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) was evaluated. Under the optimized electrochemical working conditions, calibration graph is linear for 240 s deposition time, in 0.1 M acetate buffer at pH 7.6 with the detection limit of 16.8 ppb for Pb(II). Two peaks corresponding to Cd(II) at -0.8 V and Pb(II) at -0.6 V can be discerned suggesting that Bi-HA modification had increased the current responses

Characterization of Toxic Metals in Tobacco, Tobacco Smoke, and Cigarette Ash from Selected Imported and Local Brands in Pakistan

In this study, concentrations of Cd, Ni, Pb, and Cr were determined in tobacco, tobacco smoke-condensate, and cigarette ash for selected brands used in Pakistan. Smoking apparatus was designed for metal extraction from cigarette smoke. Samples were digested through microwave digester and then analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS). Higher concentration of Ni was detected in imported brands than the counterparts in the local brands. Pb levels were however higher in local brands while significant concentration of Cd was observed in both brands. For Cr, the level in tobacco of local brands was higher than their emitted smoke, whereas imported brands showed higher level in smoke than in tobacco. The cigarette ash retained 65 to 75% of the metal and about 25 to 30% went into the body. While this study revealed the serious requirement to standardize the manufacturing of tobacco products, more importantly is the urgent need for stronger enforcements to put in place to alert the general population about the hazardous effects of cigarettes and the health risks associated with these toxic metals