VARIOUS FORMULATION VARIABLES EFFECTING FLOATATION BEHAVIOUR OF SINGLE UNIT GASTRORETENTIVE CAPSULES OF OFLOXACIN

Objective: Objective of the present study was to prepare simple single unit gastro-retentive capsules of ofloxacin with the aim to have the gastric retention of the system for longer periods of time (12h) and to study the effect of various polymers on floating behaviour of such single unit gastro-retentive capsules of ofloxacin.Methods: The method used for the preparation of gastro-retentive capsules was a simple physical blending of various low-density hydrophilic polymers alone and in combination with hydrophobic polymers and filling into capsules. These capsules were then subjected to in vitro floatation and matrix integrity study in 0.1N HCl using static volume beaker method and the United States pharmacopoeia (USP) type II dissolution apparatus method at 100rpm.Results: Two grades of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) K4M and K15M used were found suitable for the purpose. Results showed that increase in HPMC level increased colloidal gel barrier strength along with matrix integrity with consequently improved buoyancy. Lactose which was added as release rate modifier decreased matrix integrity and buoyancy. Eudragit a hydrophobic polymer was added so as to have intact, the buoyant formulation for 12 h with desired drug release characteristics. The addition of eudragit enhanced matrix integrity and floatation time to certain levels but higher levels showed negative results. Floatation time of more than 16 h was observed in the formulations containing 2:1 ratio of HPMC K15M and eudragit respectively. 32 factorial design was used to study the effect of various formulation variables on buoyancy and matrix integrity. Formulations containing zero level of HPMC were found buoyant for more than 12 h with all levels of eudragit S100 (i.e.,-1, 0,+1 level). It was also observed that matrix integrity consequently buoyancy increased with increase in eudragit with all levels of HPMC.Conclusion: The study concludes that eudragit S100 a hydrophobic polymer increased floatation time of the formulated capsules with all the three levels of HPMC K15M, but at the same time eudragit level should not exceed HPMC, while lactose a release rate enhancer decreased matrix integrity/floatation time of the formulated capsules

EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT EFFECT ON REDUCING JOB STRESS

This study has adopted the quantitative research approach for collecting data from different branches of the Bank of Khyber that are operating in the vicinity of the Saddar region, Peshawar city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The sample size consists of 60 employees. A total of 18 questions were asked based on the 5-point Likert scale responses. In order to perform numerous procedures, SPSS is used to analyse statistical tests in this study. Regression analysis is employed to test the hypothesis. Employee participation in the organization improves the overall productivity and contributes to organizational improvement. Job stress has a negative influence on the employee job performance. The results indicate that there is a negative and significant relationship between the employee’s involvement and employee job stress. Although job stress is a negative phenomenon and may have a positive impact on the performance of the employees and eventually the organization

Classification and evaluation of digital forensic tools

Digital forensic tools (DFTs) are used to detect the authenticity of digital images. Different DFTs have been developed to detect the forgery like (i) forensic focused operating system, (ii) computer forensics, (iii) memory forensics, (iv) mobile device forensics, and (v) software forensics tools (SFTs). These tools are dedicated to detect the forged images depending on the type of the applications. Based on our review, we found that in literature of the DFTs less attention is given to the evaluation and analysis of the forensic tools. Among various DFTs, we choose SFTs because it is concerned with the detection of the forged digital images. Therefore,the purpose of this study is to classify the different DFTs and evaluate the software forensic tools (SFTs) based on the different features which are present in the SFTs. In our work, we evaluate the following five SFTs, i.e.,“FotoForensics”, “JPEGsnoop”, “Ghiro”, “Forensically”, and “Izitru”, based on different features so that new research directions can be identified for the development of the SFTs

A Time-Series Analysis of Economic Growth in the Context of Indian Economy

India has a sizable and successful consumer class, which is critical given that household consumption accounts for 60% of GDP. Total market value is calculated by adding the monetary or market values of all final goods and services produced inside a nation's borders. Additionally, the gross domestic product at market value (GDP at market value) may be employed to reflect this total market value. Total domestic production is defined in terms of GDP to assess the economy's health. GDP is computed on a quarterly or yearly basis, depending on the state of the economy at the moment. Human capital is a country's most important natural resource, and it must be used appropriately and acknowledged to accomplish long-term economic goals sustainably. India is the world's second-most populated nation, with 1.3 billion people behind China. According to the World Bank, India's global influence has grown in lockstep with its consistent economic success. Compared to wealthier nations, emerging countries have several obstacles, including a lack of infrastructure and a low per capita income. Another issue that has to be addressed is the growth of rural economic systems. According to some experts, India's current economic instability will culminate in an unprecedented economic boom, which they believe has already begun

Resistance patterns, prevalence, and predictors of fluoroquinolones resistance in multidrug resistant tuberculosis patients

AbstractBackgroundFluoroquinolones are the backbone of multidrug resistant tuberculosis treatment regimens. Despite the high burden of multidrug resistant tuberculosis in the country, little is known about drug resistance patterns, prevalence, and predictors of fluoroquinolones resistance among multidrug resistant tuberculosis patients from Pakistan.ObjectiveTo evaluate drug resistance patterns, prevalence, and predictors of fluoroquinolones resistance in multidrug resistant tuberculosis patients.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted at a programmatic management unit of drug resistant tuberculosis, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, Pakistan. Two hundred and forty-three newly diagnosed multidrug resistant tuberculosis patients consecutively enrolled for treatment at study site from January 1, 2012 to July 28, 2013 were included in the study. A standardized data collection form was used to collect patients’ socio-demographic, microbiological, and clinical data. SPSS 16 was used for data analysis.ResultsHigh degree of drug resistance (median 5 drugs, range 2–8) was observed. High proportion of patients was resistant to all five first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs (62.6%), and more than half were resistant to second line drugs (55.1%). The majority of the patients were ofloxacin resistant (52.7%). Upon multivariate analysis previous tuberculosis treatment at private (OR=1.953, p=0.034) and public private mix (OR=2.824, p=0.046) sectors were predictors of ofloxacin resistance.ConclusionThe high degree of drug resistance observed, particularly to fluoroquinolones, is alarming. We recommend the adoption of more restrictive policies to control non-prescription sale of fluoroquinolones, its rational use by physicians, and training doctors in both private and public–private mix sectors to prevent further increase in fluoroquinolones resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains

Status of Phosphorous in Soil and Plants of Apple Orchads in Quetta Valley

The study was planned to assess the phosphorous status of apple orchards around Quetta valley through soil and plant analysis. Two hundred soil samples were acquired from 40 different locations of 05 orchards at  0-15, 15-30, 30-45, 45-60, 60- 75 and 75-90 cm depths. The soil samples were analyzed for available phosphorous by AB-DTPA method. At the same time forty apple trees were selected for leaves samples and analyzed for plant phosphorous content by Rhoades, 1982 .AB-DTPA phosphorous in soil showed a sizeable variation ranging from 0.24 to 14.46 mg kg-1. Whereby plant analysis registered minimum phosphorous content 0.06% and the maximum phosphorous content 0.47% in apple plant leaves which confirms phosphorous concentration found deficient in apple orchards of Quetta valle

Status of Phosphorous in Soil and Plants of Apple Orchads in Quetta Valley

The study was planned to assess the phosphorous status of apple orchards around Quetta valley through soil and plant analysis. Two hundred soil samples were acquired from 40 different locations of 05 orchards at  0-15, 15-30, 30-45, 45-60, 60- 75 and 75-90 cm depths. The soil samples were analyzed for available phosphorous by AB-DTPA method. At the same time forty apple trees were selected for leaves samples and analyzed for plant phosphorous content by Rhoades, 1982 .AB-DTPA phosphorous in soil showed a sizeable variation ranging from 0.24 to 14.46 mg kg-1. Whereby plant analysis registered minimum phosphorous content 0.06% and the maximum phosphorous content 0.47% in apple plant leaves which confirms phosphorous concentration found deficient in apple orchards of Quetta valley

Cyberattack patterns in blockchain-based communication networks for distributed renewable energy systems : A study on big datasets

Blockchain-based reliable, resilient, and secure communication for Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) is essential in Smart Grid (SG). The Solana blockchain, due to its high stability, scalability, and throughput, along with low latency, is envisioned to enhance the reliability, resilience, and security of DERs in SGs. This paper presents big datasets focusing on SQL Injection, Spoofing, and Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) cyberattacks, which have been collected from Solana blockchain-based Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks (IWSNs) for events monitoring and control in DERs. The datasets provided include both raw (unprocessed) and refined (processed) data, which highlight distinct trends in cyberattacks in DERs. These distinctive patterns demonstrate problems like superfluous mass data generation, transmitting invalid packets, sending deceptive data packets, heavily using network bandwidth, rerouting, causing memory overflow, overheads, and creating high latency. These issues result in ineffective real-time events monitoring and control of DERs in SGs. The thorough nature of these datasets is expected to play a crucial role in identifying and mitigating a wide range of cyberattacks across different smart grid applications.© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

An Empirical Study of Technological Innovations in the Field of Accounting - Boon or Bane

In this paper researchers make an attempt by doing intense work that how technological innovations make jobs of accountant so easy from their routine jobs from posting to generating accounting statements etc. with the help of available software and technology in accounting field.Technological innovations have changed an obstructed job of accountant into easier one and that too rapid and accurate, with these developments researchers have found and witnessed that it has affected erstwhile as it has restricted entry for so many into an accounting field  as jobs of accountants have shrunk and in few hands who are technology accelerators and technology driven.Researchers have shown how technology has affected the outcome and impact on business in terms of accuracy, pace and swiftness.Researchers have made an attempt to explore various cause and effect relationship between available software in accounting, technology and accountants.In their intense and in depth research we have designed questionnaire comprised of many questions in which respondents are selected from top management, employees and included job seekers too in order to receive their unbiased responses during primary data collection.Wherever found necessary researchers have taken secondary data also to make study more accurate, interesting and feasible

Fuzzy Logic Based Software Reliability Quantification Framework: Early Stage Perspective (FLSRQF)

AbstractToday, the influence of information technology has been spreading exponentially, from high level research going on in top labs of the world to the home appliances. Such a huge demand is compelling developers to develop more software to meet the user expectations. As a result reliability has come up as a critical quality factor that cannot be compromised. Therefore, researchers are continuously making efforts to meet this challenge. With this spirit, authors of the paper have proposed a highly structured framework that guides the process of quantifying software reliability, before the coding of the software start. Before presenting the framework, to realize its need and significance, the paper has presented the state-of-the-art on software reliability quantification. The strength of fuzzy set theory has been utilized to prevail over the limitation of subjectivity of requirements stage measures. Salient features of the framework are also highlighted at the end of the paper