Effect of missing values on the matching item in the graded model

The study aimed to examine the effect of the percentage of missing values on the matching of the items of the graded model. To achieve this, the experimental approach was followed in conducting the study, as hypothetical data were used to simulate the experimental conditions represented by the percentage of missing values. It has three levels (5%, 10%, and 20%). Moreover, the compensation method is represented by simple regression. The study found that there were no statistically significant differences in the percentage of items matching the graded model according to the missing percentages (5% and 10%). Moreover, there were statistically significant differences in the percentage of items matching the graded model according to the missing percentages (20%). Therefore, we must use the different nonparametric item response theory (IRT) models because of the good information, it provides to researchers about the test and its items without missing items suitable for this purpose and prejudice—the cumulative response of the subjects

Characteristics of patients with guillain barre syndrome at a tertiary care centre in Pakistan, 1995-2003

Objective: To study the clinical presentation, hospital course and outcome of patients admitted with Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) to a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: The charts of patients conforming to International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code 9.0, for GBS, from September 1995 to January 2003 were reviewed. Clinical data was recorded on a standardized questionnaire, which included patients\u27 age, sex, antecedent events, neurological signs and symptoms and ventilation requirement. The hospital course was analyzed, including nosocomial infections, therapy given and the functional status of patients, using the Rankin scale (0-6). Standard SPSS 11.5 software (Windows) was used for data analysis. Results: Thirty-four cases of GBS were admitted to the hospital during the study period, with an age range of 3 to 70 years. The mean age for disease onset was 35.2 years for female patients, compared to 30 years for males; the male/female ratio was 1.6:1.Gastrointestinal infections (12/22, 54.6%) were the most common antecedent event, followed by upper respiratory tract infections (9/22, 40.9%) and skin lesions (1/22, 4.5%). Most patients developed GBS within one month of the preceding infection. Cranial nerve abnormalities (30/34, 88.2%), autonomic dysfunction (21/34, 61.8%) and respiratory failure requiring intubation (19/34, 55.9%) were also common. The median Rankin score of patients at admission, and at 30 and 60 days thereafter was 5, 4 and 3.5 respectively. The in-patient mortality was 1 of 34 (2.4%). Conclusion: We found that GBS occurred at all ages and was slightly more common in males. Majority of patients had an antecedent history of infection and had severe disease on presentation. The patients were treated with either plasmapheresis or intravenous immunoglobulins and there was no significant difference in outcome in the two groups. Despite severe persistent disability, in-hospital mortality was low (JPMA 55:493;2005)

Molecular docking studies on InhA, MabA and PanK enzymes from Mycobacterium tuberculosis of ellagic acid derivatives from Ludwigia adscendens and Trewia nudiflora

There is an urgent need to discover and develop new drugs to combat Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB) in humans. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the discovery of new anti-TB agents from natural sources. In the present investigation, molecular docking studies were carried out on two ellagic acid derivatives, namely pteleoellagic acid (1) isolated from Ludwigia adscendens, and 3,3′-di-O-methyl ellagic acid 4-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (2) isolated from Trewia nudiflora, to investigate their binding to two enzymes involved in M. tuberculosis cell wall biogenesis, namely 2-trans-enoyl-ACP reductase (InhA) and β-ketoacyl-ACP reductase (MabA), and to pantothenate kinase (PanK type I) involved in the biosynthesis of coenzyme A, essential for the growth of M. tuberculosis. Molecular docking experiments were performed using AutoDock Vina. The crystal structures of InhA, MabA and PanK were retrieved from the RCSB Protein Data Bank (PDB). Isonicotinic-acyl-NADH for InhA and MabA, and triazole inhibitory compound for PanK, were used as references. Pteleoellagic acid showed a high docking score, estimated binding free energy of −9.4 kcal/mol, for the MabA enzyme comparable to the reference compound isonicotinic-acyl-NADH.Knowledge on the molecular interactions of ellagic acid derivatives with essential M. tuberculosis targets could prove a useful tool for the design and development of future anti-TB drugs

Investigation of the anti-TB potential of selected propolis constituents using a molecular docking approach

Human tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is the leading bacterial killer disease worldwide and new anti-TB drugs are urgently needed. Natural remedies have long played an important role in medicine and continue to provide some inspiring templates for drug design. Propolis, a substance naturally-produced by bees upon collection of plant resins, is used in folk medicine for its beneficial anti-TB activity. In this study, we used a molecular docking approach to investigate the interactions between selected propolis constituents and four ‘druggable’ proteins involved in vital physiological functions in M. tuberculosis, namely MtPanK, MtDprE1, MtPknB and MtKasA. The docking score for ligands towards each protein was calculated to estimate the binding free energy, with the best docking score (lowest energy value) indicating the highest predicted ligand/protein affinity. Specific interactions were also explored to understand the nature of intermolecular bonds between the most active ligands and the protein binding site residues. The lignan (+)-sesamin displayed the best docking score towards MtDprE1 (−10.7 kcal/mol) while the prenylated flavonoid isonymphaeol D docked strongly with MtKasA (−9.7 kcal/mol). Both compounds showed docking scores superior to the control inhibitors and represent potentially interesting scaffolds for further in vitro biological evaluation and anti-TB drug design

Review for the management of vitamin B12 deficiency in diabetic patients on metformin

Long-term usage of Metformin is associated with lower serum vitamin B12 levels. The lower than normal levels could worsen neurological complications of diabetes, including diabetic neuropathy and poor cognition. Guidelines advise periodic monitoring of vitamin B12 but do not specify frequency, treatment targets or treatment modality. This commentary aims to review the prevalence and the severity of the presentation and to provide evidence-based answers to those clinical questions not answered by current guidelines

Developing an E-Portfolio Model for Malaysian Skills Certification

The rapid development of ICT nowadays demands that the vocational education system in Malaysia needs to change for improvement in the quality of technology-based learning systems. The Malaysia Skills Certification (MSC) E-portfolio model was developed in this study to improve the existing portfolio used for MSC purposes. This study was conducted to verify the MSC E-portfolio measurement model. Respondents involved in this study were 350 MSC instructors from Institute of Public Skills Training in Malaysia, where 200 respondents were selected from institution under the Ministry of Human Resources and 150 respondents were under the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Malaysia. The total size of the respondent is based on the sample size formula of Krejcie and Morgan and the sample was determined using a stratified random sampling method. A questionnaire was used to obtain the research data. Rasch measurement model approach using Winsteps software was used to carry out questionnaire checks in terms of reliability and the validity of the instrument. Verification of content validity and reliability is done by 7 experts through a modified Delphi method. All 38 indicators that measure the MSC E-portfolio elements have high reliability and validity based on internal consistency analysis, indicator reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity. This shows that a combination of all these four elements can produce an E - portfolio system that is more systematic and multi-purpose, as the concept of e-portfolios are still least applied in the education system. Overall, it can be concluded that the E-portfolio MSC constructs influenced by four major factors which are, operating systems, assessment of competence, Recognition of Prior Achievement (RPA) and virtual learning space. This study also directly gives a new dimension to the MSC system from the aspect of student competency assessment, interactive learning, safety safer storage of learning materials and provide a more systematic knowledge management space

The impact of creative thinking of marketing ideas on the design structure of the modern Jorda-nian advertisement: Evidence from the Jordanian telecommunications companies

The study aimed to investigate the impact of creative thinking on marketing ideas and their influence on the structure of modern Jordanian advertisements for telecommunications companies. The methodology involved developing a survey instrument with four independent variables and one dependent variable. The independent variables were Creative Marketing (CM), Marketing Strategy (MS), Online Marketing (OM), and Social Media Marketing (SMM). The dependent variable was the Structure of the Modern Jordanian Advertisement (SMJA). The study population is customers of Jordanian telecommunications companies who reside in Jordan. A sample size of 270 respondents was selected through a convenience sampling method. The data were analyzed using statistical software, such as SPSS and AMOS 27 version, to test the research hypotheses. The results indicate that all four paths are statistically significant. The first hypothesis, which relates to creative marketing, has the highest estimated result of 0.62, while the second, third and the fourth hypotheses have estimated results of 0.152, 0.133, and 0.111, respectively. Overall, the results support the hypothesis that all four marketing domains have a significant impact on SMJA

Particle swarm optimization algorithm to enhance the roughness of thin film in tin coatings

Nowadays, lots of disciplines require optimization to determine optimal parameters to accomplish top quality services which include parameters optimization of thin film coating. Modification of sharp tool characteristics and costs are two primary matters in the procedure of Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD). The purpose of this study is to figure out the optimal parameters in PVD coating process for better thin-film roughness. Three input parameters are chosen to describe the solutions over the target data, such as Nitrogen gas pressure (N2), Turntable speed (TT), and Argon gas pressure (Ar), although the surface roughness had been chosen being a result response of the Titanium nitrite (TiN). Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) tools were applied to describe the roughness of coating layer. Within this research, a process of modelling using Response Surface Method (RSM) was applied for surface roughness of Titanium Nitrite (TiN) coating to get a best result. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) was applied as an optimization technique for the coating process to enhance characteristics of thin film roughness. In validation process, different experimental runs of actual data were conducted. It was found that residual error (e) is less than 10, to indicate that the model can accurately predict the surface roughness. Also, PSO could reduce the value of coating roughness at reduction of ≈ 48% to get a minimum value compared to actual data