Identifying Unauthorized Transactions On Credit Cards By Using Machine Learning Methodologies

It is essential for organizations that issue credit cards to be able to recognize fraudulent credit card transactions. This will prevent consumers from being charged for products that they did not buy with their credit card. The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the modelling of a data set via use of machine learning for the detection of credit card fraud. The problem of detecting fraudulent use of credit cards requires modelling previously completed credit card transactions using the information from those that were determined to be fraudulent. After that, this model is put to use to determine whether or not a new transaction constitutes fraudulent activity. Our goal is to appropriately handle misclassified categories by reducing the number of false Negative cases. During this stage of the process, our primary focuses have been on the analysis and preprocessing of data sets, as well as the application of multiple anomaly detection algorithms these algorithms include the local outlier factor and the isolation forest algorithm. We have used IEEE_CIS Fraud dataset, provided by the kaggle .we applied feature extraction technique to reduce the dimensionality of large dataset by extracting only those principle components with highest variance. Given the class imbalance ratio, we measured the accuracy using the Area Under the Precision-Recall Curve (AUPRC) which gives better results than any other previously used models

Vancomycin sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from hospital patients in Karachi, Pakistan

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (MRSA), resistant to all antibiotics including Vancomycin, has been reported in Japan, USA, Canada and Brazil. Hence, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the possible presence of Vancomycin resistant or intermediate S.aureus in Karachi. A total of 850 clinical isolates were collected from two civil hospitals in the city between February 2006 and January 2007. They were identified using standard bacteriological methods.Sensitivity to recommended antibiotics was determined by disc diffusion, agar dilution, and E-test quantitative minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Susceptibility to natural or semi-natural products was determined by the agar dilution method. Out of 850 isolates, 250 were MRSA, of which 22% were resistant to 4 µg/ml Vancomycin, 24% to 8 µg/ml, 15.2% to 16 µg/ml, 10% to 20 µg/ml, and 13.2% to 30 µg/ml; the remaining 15.6% were sensitive to all used concentrations. Although we did not detect any Vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA), we found that 13% of the strains were intermediates (VISA), i.e. resistant to 30 µg/ml of Vancomycin. Because of the continuously increasing prevalence of VISA, it is imperative to minimize the use of Vancomycin. Indeed, the drug should only be prescribed for the treatment of documented, culture-proven infections with MRSA that are not susceptible to routine or alternative agents. This should help avoid the consequences of the development of Vancomycin resistant S. aureus (VRSA) in our environment

Key distinguishing characters (KDCs) of official (Boerhaavia diffusa L.) and commonly mistaken (Trianthema portulacastrum L.) sources of Mukkirattai of Siddha

Boerhaavia diffusa L. has been used extensively in Siddha system of medicine and is often confused with Trianthema portulacastrum L. due to morphological similarities. This particular study compares, analyses and identifies the key distinguishing features of the two whole plant drugs based on pharmacognostical and phytochemical aspects. The samples were studied for macroscopy, microscopy, physicochemical analysis, preliminary phytochemical analysis and HPTLC following standard procedures. Macroscopic studies showed few notable differences in macro-microscopy of root, stem, leaves and flowers of both the plants. Microscopically root, stem, leaf and petiole of both the plants showed differences in layers of cork, presence of crystals and medullary rays (in root), the thickness of cuticle, cortex and arrangement of vascular bundles (stem), presence of characteristic type of trichomes (leaf) and shape of the petiole. Powder microscopy showed differences in epidermis, crystal types and shape of pollen. Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of phenol, saponins and coumarins in B. diffusa and was not detected in T. portulacastrum. There were significant differences in the values of quantitative microscopy, physicochemical parameters and HPTLC of both the whole plant samples. The finding of this study will be helpful for the correct identification of the plant

Monograph on quality standards of Viscum angulatum B. Heyne ex DC.

The genus Viscum (Viscaceae) comprise of several species of hemi-parasitic plants with medicinal properties. Commonly known as mistletoes, these plants grow on other trees with the partial parasitic association. Viscum angulatum B.Heyne ex DC. is one such less explored leafless mistletoe of Asian countries with medicinal claims. In Ayurveda (Bandaka) and Siddha (Pulluri/Pulluruvi), many botanicals from mistletoe families have been attributed with medicinal properties. The objective of the current study is to develop a monograph on quality standards of V. angulatum occurring in high altitude hills of Western Ghats. Aerial parts of V. angulatum were collected and authenticated and preserved in FAA for microscopic studies and some quantity of the plant material was shade-dried and coarsely powdered. Successive extracts were subjected to chromatography and isolation - characterization of the major compounds. Leaf-less quadrangular stem was found to be a diagnostic macroscopic feature of this species. The preliminary phytochemical investigation of extracts showed presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, coumarins, flavonoids, phytosterols, triterpenoids, saponins and tannins. HPTLC fingerprint of n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts has been obtained for identification of extracts. The ethyl acetate extract yielded 10-hydroxyoleoside dimethyl ester which can be used as a marker compound for routine quality check of V. angulatum growing on Mussaenda hirsutissima. The set of data obtained in the present investigation can serve as a standard for the identification as well as further studies. These results on standards of this plant are the first report so far

Monograph on quality standards of Viscum angulatum B. Heyne ex DC.

320-332The genus Viscum (Viscaceae) comprise of several species of hemi-parasitic plants with medicinal properties. Commonly known as mistletoes, these plants grow on other trees with the partial parasitic association. Viscum angulatum B.Heyne ex DC. is one such less explored leafless mistletoe of Asian countries with medicinal claims. In Ayurveda (Bandaka) and Siddha (Pulluri/Pulluruvi), many botanicals from mistletoe families have been attributed with medicinal properties. The objective of the current study is to develop a monograph on quality standards of V. angulatum occurring in high altitude hills of Western Ghats. Aerial parts of V. angulatum were collected and authenticated and preserved in FAA for microscopic studies and some quantity of the plant material was shade-dried and coarsely powdered. Successive extracts were subjected to chromatography and isolation - characterization of the major compounds. Leaf-less quadrangular stem was found to be a diagnostic macroscopic feature of this species. The preliminary phytochemical investigation of extracts showed presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, coumarins, flavonoids, phytosterols, triterpenoids, saponins and tannins. HPTLC fingerprint of n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts has been obtained for identification of extracts. The ethyl acetate extract yielded 10-hydroxyoleoside dimethyl ester which can be used as a marker compound for routine quality check of V. angulatum growing on Mussaenda hirsutissima. The set of data obtained in the present investigation can serve as a standard for the identification as well as further studies. These results on standards of this plant are the first report so far

The Paradox of Shorebird Diversity and Abundance in the West Coast and East Coast of India: A Comparative Analysis

Migratory shorebirds that move across continents along their flyways are undergoing a drastic decline globally. A greater proportion of them that regularly winter along the Indian coasts within the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) are also undergoing severe declines. However, the mechanisms underlying the population trends in these areas remain little understood. This study investigated the diversity, abundance, population dynamics and distribution patterns of shorebirds along the Indian coasts based on the available literature. The west coast of India is relatively less studied than the east coast in the CAF. Further, we observed that the diversity, abundance, population dynamics and distribution pattern of the shorebirds follow different trends on the west coast compared to the east coast. These variations are in accordance with the differences in topography and biotic and abiotic factors between the coasts. Anthropogenic activities have far-reaching effects on the survival and persistence of shorebirds along the coasts. The west coast is evidently more productive than the east coast at every trophic level and thus the west coast is expected to account for more abundance and diversity of shorebirds. Paradoxically, we found that the east coast supports a greater abundance and diversity of shorebirds than the west coast. The west coast, therefore, requires further investigations to obtain a better understanding of the causes of apparent differences in abundance and diversity as well as the observed declines in shorebirds, compared to the east coast of India

Continuum of care in maternal, newborn and child health in Pakistan: analysis of trends and determinants from 2006 to 2012

Iqbal S, Maqsood S, Zakar R, Zakria Zakar M, Fischer F. Continuum of care in maternal, newborn and child health in Pakistan: analysis of trends and determinants from 2006 to 2012. BMC Health Services Research. 2017;17(1): 189.Background Pakistan, being a developing country, presents the dismal picture of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. The majority of maternal and neonatal deaths could be avoided if Continuum of Care (CoC) is provided in a structured pathway from pregnancy to birth and to the first week of life of the newborn child. This study aimed to analyse the trends of CoC at all three levels (antenatal care, skilled delivery and postpartum care) and to identify various factors affecting the continuation in receiving CoC in Pakistan during 2006 to 2012. Methods Secondary data analysis was performed on nationally representative data from the last two iterations of Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS), conducted during 2006/07 to 2012/13. The analysis is limited to women of the reproductive age group (15–49 years) who gave birth during the last five years preceding both surveys. This leads to a sample size of 5,724 and 7,461 respondents from PDHS 2006/07 and 2012/13 respectively. The association between CoC and several factors, including individual attributes (reproductive status), family influences, community context, as well as cultural and social values was assessed in bivariate analyses in a first step. Furthermore, odds ratios and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals using a binary and multivariable logistic regression were calculated. Results Our research presents the trends of a composite measure of CoC including antenatal care, delivery assistance and postpartum care. The largest gap in CoC was observed at antenatal care followed by delivery and postnatal care within 48 h after delivery. Results show that CoC completion rate has increased from 15% to 27% amongst women in Pakistan over time from 2006 to 2012. Women with high age at first birth, having less number of children, with higher education, belonging to richest quintile, living in Sindh province and urban areas, having high autonomy and exposure to mass media were most likely to avail complete CoC. Conclusions The findings show that women in Pakistan still lack the CoC. This calls for attention to develop and implement tailored interventions, focusing on the needs of women in Pakistan to provide CoC in an integrated manner, involving both public and private sectors by appropriately addressing the factors hindering CoC completion rates

The GCP molecular marker toolkit, an instrument for use in breeding food security crops

Crop genetic resources carry variation useful for overcoming the challenges of modern agriculture. Molecular markers can facilitate the selection of agronomically important traits. The pervasiveness of genomics research has led to an overwhelming number of publications and databases, which are, nevertheless, scattered and hence often difficult for plant breeders to access, particularly those in developing countries. This situation separates them from developed countries, which have better endowed programs for developing varieties. To close this growing knowledge gap, we conducted an intensive literature review and consulted with more than 150 crop experts on the use of molecular markers in the breeding program of 19 food security crops. The result was a list of effectively used and highly reproducible sequence tagged site (STS), simple sequence repeat (SSR), single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. However, only 12 food crops had molecular markers suitable for improvement. That is, marker-assisted selection is not yet used for Musa spp., coconut, lentils, millets, pigeonpea, sweet potato, and yam. For the other 12 crops, 214 molecular markers were found to be effectively used in association with 74 different traits. Results were compiled as the GCP Molecular Marker Toolkit, a free online tool that aims to promote the adoption of molecular approaches in breeding activities

Genomics-assisted breeding in four major pulse crops of developing countries: present status and prospects

The global population is continuously increasing and is expected to reach nine billion by 2050. This huge population pressure will lead to severe shortage of food, natural resources and arable land. Such an alarming situation is most likely to arise in developing countries due to increase in the proportion of people suffering from protein and micronutrient malnutrition. Pulses being a primary and affordable source of proteins and minerals play a key role in alleviating the protein calorie malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and other undernourishment-related issues. Additionally, pulses are a vital source of livelihood generation for millions of resource-poor farmers practising agriculture in the semi-arid and sub-tropical regions. Limited success achieved through conventional breeding so far in most of the pulse crops will not be enough to feed the ever increasing population. In this context, genomics-assisted breeding (GAB) holds promise in enhancing the genetic gains. Though pulses have long been considered as orphan crops, recent advances in the area of pulse genomics are noteworthy, e.g. discovery of genome-wide genetic markers, high-throughput genotyping and sequencing platforms, high-density genetic linkage/QTL maps and, more importantly, the availability of whole-genome sequence. With genome sequence in hand, there is a great scope to apply genome-wide methods for trait mapping using association studies and to choose desirable genotypes via genomic selection. It is anticipated that GAB will speed up the progress of genetic improvement of pulses, leading to the rapid development of cultivars with higher yield, enhanced stress tolerance and wider adaptability

GENOTOXICITY EVALUATION OF CISSUS LATIFOLIA LAM. AND ITS GENOPROTECTIVE EFFECT ON OXIDATIVE DAMAGE INDUCED BY HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Objective: This study focused on the genotoxic efficacy of higher concentrations of methanolic extract of Cissus latifolia Lam. and its genoprotective role at lower concentrations against the induced cytogenetic aberrations by 2% hydrogen peroxide [H2O2] on the Allium cepa plant model. Methods: Cytotoxic and genoprotective potential of the plant extract were analyzed using A. cepa assay. The treatment modes that were designed for antigenotoxicity screening were pre-treatment, post-treatment, and concurrent treatment. Results: Results revealed the toxic effect of extract of C. latifolia which induced major chromosomal abnormalities, namely, nuclear lesions, chromosome vagrants, stickiness, bridges, and chromosome breaks. These aberrations were found to be unaltered and showed the potent clastogenic nature of plant extract. As concentrations of plant extract and exposure time increase, the frequency of occurrence of cytogenetic aberrations was also detected to be more. Further, the potential genotoxicity of plant measured in terms of mitotic index reduction also confirms its significant role in inducing mutagenicity. The genoprotective efficacy of extract was identified as its ability to inhibit and reverse the aberrations caused by H2O2 at lower concentrations of plant extract. Conclusions: Dose-dependent data highlight the cytotoxic and genoprotective effect of C. latifolia on the A. cepa model. These findings will help to exploit the plant as an anticancer drug and explore other wide arrays of therapeutic activities of C. latifolia