Tackling the Problems Associated with Antimalarial Medicines of Poor Quality

The use of poor-quality antimalarials has devastating consequences, including increased morbidity, mortality, and drug resistance. Unfortunately, this issue appears to be widespread, especially in parts of Africa and Asia, jeopardizing the progress and investments already made in global malaria control in these regions. In developing countries, inadequate laws and regulatory oversight, along with the lack of human, technical, and financial resources, do not encourage the manufacture and distribution of high-quality medicines. The problem of poor-quality medicines can only be addressed by a multipronged approach that includes tackling poor regulation and ineffective/poorly implemented laws at national and international levels. In addition, pharmaceutical companies must be responsible for ensuring that the quality of antimalarials meets the stringent guidelines established by regulatory authorities, for testing their medicines accordingly and for releasing to market only medicines that pass these requirements. The chapter also discusses how the implementation of strategies such as the WHO Prequalification Program, the African Medicine Registration Harmonization initiative, and the ethical production of medicines by pharmaceutical companies help to ensure that antimalarial therapies marketed in low-income, malaria-endemic countries are quality assured

A comparative study on Acorus calamus (Acoraceae) micropropagation and selection of suitable population for cultivation in Iran

In addition to various medicinal properties, Acorus calamus (sweet flag) is used in health, food, and perfume industries. Since this species is a rare plant in Iran, its propagation and cultivation are of the great importance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different plant growth regulators on micropropaga-tion of this plant and to select the appropriate population. The root, the rhizome and the leaf explants of three populations (Arzefon, Pelesk, and Alandan) were cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) for callus induction and plant regeneration. The results showed that only rhizome explant resulted in direct plant regeneration. Among different treatments, the 1 mg/l treatment of BAP and NAA - with the highest mean number of regenerated plants (3.75 ± 0.85), the highest percentage of grown explants (91.6%) and maximum average length of regenerated plants (12.06 ± 0.32 cm) - was the best treatment for regeneration of sweet flag. The highest mean number of root (6.6 ± 0.1) was observed in Alandan population in 1 mg/l treatment of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). According to the present study, Alandan population is suitable for cultivation purposes in Iran

Solution-processed multiferroic thin-films with large magnetoelectric coupling at room-temperature

Experimental realization of thin films with a significant room-temperature magnetoelectric coupling coefficient, αME, in the absence of an external DC magnetic field, has been thus far elusive. Here, a large coupling coefficient of 750 ± 30 mV Oe-1 cm-1 is reported for multiferroic polymer nanocomposites (MPCs) thin-films in the absence of an external DC magnetic field. The MPCs are based on PMMA-grafted cobalt-ferrite nanoparticles uniformly dispersed in the piezoelectric polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene, P(VDF-TrFE). It is shown that nanoparticle agglomeration plays a detrimental role and significantly reduces αME. Surface functionalization of the nanoparticles by grafting a layer of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) renders the nanoparticle miscible with P(VDF-TRFE) matrix, thus enabling their uniform dispersion in the matrix even in submicrometer thin films. Uniform dispersion yields maximized interfacial interactions between the ferromagnetic nanoparticles and the piezoelectric polymer matrix leading to the experimental demonstration of large αME values in solution-processed thin films, which can be exploited in flexible and printable multiferroic electronic devices for sensing and memory applications.</p

The Use of Talc Powder in Bleaching Cotton Fibers

It is known that the use of sodium silicate (Na2 Si2 O3) in bleaching has some disadvantages such as its high cost, harsh handle of the bleached fabric, and the reduction of the tensile strength of the fabric.Talc Powder is used in the bleaching of woven cotton fabrics as a stabilizer for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) instead of using sodium silicate. Many experiments were carried out using talc powder at variable condi-tions such as temperature and pH. The same experiments were carried out using sodium silicate stabilizer. Several experiments were carried out on fabrics without a stabilizer.The bleached samples were tested for whiteness, absorbence, and tensile strength. The untreated samples were tested for comparison. The results of the tested samples were recorded and analysed using statistical methods.The study proved that very good whiteness and higher absorbence were obtained when using talc powder, besides that the loss in tensile strength is relatively low. Also it was observed that the softness and handle of fabrics were improved

Transport and thermodynamic properties of rare earth compounds and alloys

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD (Physics)Rare-earth (RE) elements possess an incompletely lled 4f shell, which is very small compared to typical interatomic distances. As a result of this, RE elements and compounds exhibit characteristic properties, which deviate signi cantly from those of other systems containing for instance the 3d transition elements with expanded 3d shells. As a result of a small radius of the 4f shell, the 4f electron does not participate in chemical bounding. Instead, the 4f electron together with the nucleus act virtually as an e ective nucleus. From chemical point of view all RE behave similarly. The overlap of the neighbouring f shells is extremely small. The magnetic moments associated with the 4f shell may be treated as well localized moments in contrast to the 3d which are itinerant

Prediction of Self-Consolidating Concrete Properties using XGBoost Machine Learning Algorithm: Part 1–Workability

The Interest in Implementing Self-Consolidating Concrete (SCC) in Major Construction Projects Has Increased Significantly in Recent Years. This Paper Reports the Results of an Extensive Survey of Experimental Data of More Than 1700 SCC Mixtures from over 100 Studies Published in the Last Decade. the Survey Included the SCC Mixture Proportioning, Key Fresh Properties Including Flowability, Passing Ability, and Segregation Resistance, as Well as Some of the Derived Properties (E.g., Paste Volume). the Statistical Analysis of the Reported Parameters Showed Wide Variations in Values. the Outcome of the Survey Indicates that SCC Mixture Design and Workability Properties Do Not Systematically Lie within the Recommendations Reported in Various Guidelines. a Wide Range of Workability Tests is Used; However, only 22 % of the Studies Reported Values for Segregation Resistance. the Slump Flow Test Was the Most Tested Fresh Property and the Most Reported Values Are in Range of 591–760 Mm (X¯ = 679 Mm). the V-Funnel Time Was the Second Most Reported Test, and the Most of Reported Values Are in Range of 4.0–20 S (X¯ = 11 S). the Study Devised and Evaluated the Efficacy of using Machine Learning (ML) Models, Namely Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), to Predict the Two Most Reported Workability Characteristics of SCC, Namely Slump Flow and V-Funnel Flow Time. the Model Was Formulated to Predict Slump Flow and V-Funnel Time using a Refined Sub-Database of 852 Tests (The Extreme Data I.e., 5 % from Each Side, for the Both Properties and the Empty Data Was Deleted). the Findings Revealed that the XGBoost Model Can Provide an Accurate Prediction for the Slump Flow and V-Funnel Values, Thus Indicating its Potential as a Powerful Tool for SCC Optimization. the Findings Provide Valuable Insights into the Application of ML in SCC Research and Contribute to the Development of More Efficient and Sustainable Construction Practices

Combating poor-quality anti-malarial medicines: a call to action

The circulation of poor-quality medicines continues to undermine the fight against many life-threatening diseases. Anti-malarial medicines appear to have been particularly compromised and present a major public health threat in malaria-endemic countries, negatively affecting individuals and their communities. Concerted collaborative efforts are required from global, regional and national organizations, involving the public and private sectors, to address the problem. While many initiatives are underway, a number of unmet needs deserve urgent and increased multisector attention. At the global level, there is a need for an international public health legal framework or treaty on poor-quality medicines, with statutes suitable for integration into national laws. In addition, increased international efforts are required to strengthen the governance of global supply chains and enhance cooperation between national medicine regulation authorities and law enforcement bodies. Increased investment is needed in innovative technologies that will enable healthcare teams to detect poor-quality medicines at all levels of the supply chain. At the regional level, a number of initiatives would be beneficial-key areas are standardization, simplification, and reciprocal recognition of registration processes and development of quality control capacity in regional centres of excellence that are better aligned with public health needs; improved surveillance methods and creation of a framework for compulsory and transparent reporting of poor-quality medicines; additional support for national medicine regulation authorities and other national partner authorities; and an increase in support for regional laboratories to boost their capabilities in detecting poor-quality medicines. It is vital that all stakeholders involved in efforts against poor-quality anti-malarial medicines extend and strengthen their actions in these critical areas and thus effectively support global health development and malaria elimination programmes

The Role of Electronic Banking in Shaping the Strategic Direction of Banks in the United Arab Emirates

The advent of digital innovation provides profound benefits and an excellent opportunity for various industries, including banking business.  A plethora of electronic banking services have been witnessed in developing countries worldwide.  The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the most economically competitive in the region and the wider world.  The adoption of electronic banking in UAE has been established a long time and increased tremendously.  Scholars and business experts revealed that although the banking sector in UAE is noted as a financial and service sector leader, the whole system of financial services and intermediation is yet to be properly utilized as a real added value tool.  The main focus of this paper is to investigate how electronic banking is shaping the strategic direction of banks in UAE, based on qualitative interviews with the bank managers and secondary data.  Moreover, what are the provisions made to improve customer-company relationship using this technology?  The results suggest that banks have thorough and defined procedures to acknowledge internet services, and although customers are still hesitant in using newer banking services, the need for sophisticated electronic banking system has acquired a new urgency.  It was suggested that the specific factors such as convenience, security transactions, and computer self-efficacy could have a significant impact to maximize their profitability and improve customer-company relationship.  Also, study revealed that trust is central to an effective functioning electronic banking system.  Although electronic banking transactions have improved over a decades in UAE, more effort is required to alleviate influences associated with lack of trust of online transactions among electronic banking users. Keywords: electronic banking, United Arab Emirate