Comparative Phytochemical Screening And Antioxidant Activities of Calligonum Comosum And Calligonum Crjnitum

Medicinal plants are vital source of present day prescription and the majority of the recommended modern medications contain their subsidiaries. Calligonum comosum and Calligonum crinitum are perennial shrub plants growing in the United Arab Emirates, and are being utilized as a part of traditional medicinal system of UAE. The aims of proposed study were to evaluate and compare the phytochemical and antioxidant properties of these two plants. The extraction and fractionation were conducted by using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol. The extracts were tested for their antioxidant activity. Phytochemical studies with total phenolics and flavonoid contents were analyzed by following standard methods. Along with this, proximate analysis with micro and macro elements were also estimated. In vitro antioxidant analysis were done by different methods. The results exhibited a positive linear correlation between these phytochemicals such as saponins, flavonoids, tannins, and terpenes and the free radical scavenging activities. Our results confirm that the extracts have potential antioxidants and this legitimizes their use in folkloric medicine. Hence, scientific validation of traditional knowledge can be accomplished in a preparatory level

Linking Halal Food Certification and Business Performance

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between Halal food certification (HFC) and business performance. This study argues that Halal food certificate implementation positively influences business performance. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 210 Halal certified food manufacturing companies in Malaysia participated in the study. Data were gathered through a structured questionnaire and were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling technique. Findings: The study proved that HFC has a positive relationship with operational performance. Additionally, operational performance mediates the relationship between HFC and financial performance. Altogether, this signifies that Halal food certificate implementation positively influences business performance. Practical implications: By linking HFC and business performance, managers may be aware of the significant role of HFC in influencing operational and financial performance. It would entice more food companies to become Halal certified that opens up an opportunity to a lucrative Halal food industry. It also empirically justifies that a religion-based food certification has the ability to influence business performance, consistent with other established food standards such as ISO 22000 or HACCP. Originality/value: Although numerous studies have concentrated on well-established food certifications, the expanding Muslim population, rising demand for Halal food, and lucrative Halal food market have raised the attention on HFC research among academicians and practitioners. This research is able to highlight the importance of implementing HFC among food companies as it could potentially lead to superior business outcomes

Optimization of cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase production by response surface methodology approach.

The aim of the study was to optimized cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) production using local isolated strain MK6 which was identified as Bacillus sp. Optimum activity obtained at temperature of 70 °C and the enzyme shows a wide range of pH stability ranging from 4-10 when stored at 4 °C for 24 h and temperature stability ranging from 30-80 °C at 1 h incubation period. The CGTase activity was even maintained at 0.4 U mL-1 at 90 °C for 40 min incubation. Prior to optimization of CGTase production, selection for the best carbon source through detection using modified phenolphthalein method containing different types of starch were performed. Sago starch gave significant result and was used for further optimization using statistical analysis namely Response Surface Methodology (RSM) approach. The optimal calculated values were 3.34% sago starch, initial pH of 10.15 and agitation speed of 187 rpm; with predicted activity of 2.07 U mL-1 of CGTase. These predicted optimal parameters were confirmed in the laboratory and the final CGTase activity obtained was very close to the predicted value of 2.56 U mL-1

Valuing inpatient cover as a put option

A Research project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Business Science in Actuarial Science at Strathmore UniversityKenya has witnessed a steep rise in the cost of healthcare since January 2008 (Nduati, 201O) says Mr. Peter Nduati, the chief executive officer of Resolution Health East Africa, a medical insurance provider. The cost of healthcare in the country has been increasing by 10 to 20 per cent annually in the last 10 years, as per the research by Smart Company. Over the period, the consultancy fee in various hospitals has risen from Sh800 to Sh2, 000, which is a 150 per cent increase. The cost of simple painkillers have gone up by up to 28 per cent as of recently. In the three years preceding. September 2010, medical costs in Kenya were reported to have risen by an average of20% per annum, more than any other country on the continent. This was largely attributed to the steep rise in doctor's fees, thanks to the collapse of the pricing guidelines fronted by the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board. Consultation fees for general practitioners tripled within the same period while specialists such as gynecologists and oncologists were charging up to Ksh. 10,000 before diagnosis (Yumbya, 2010). For a country grappling with high inflation and perennial increase in prices of medicines, the need for health insurance needs little emphasis. (Liss, 2014

A grouping scheme for secure multicasting in mobile IPv6

In any secure multicasting environment, group management becomes an important aspect for achieving privacy and integrity of the multicast session. In this paper, group management strategy has been proposed to address thls objective. The multicast group has been divided into subgroups or hash families, each subgroup contains the nodes that maps to the same hash key that is calculated by a hash function. A 'clue' has been added to facilitate the joidleave mechanism for members in the group

MEDICATION ADHERENCE STATUS AMONG RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common disease affecting about 5 in 1,000 people in Malaysia. Medication adherence among RA patients can be as low as 30% and non-adherence of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD) may result in irreversible joint damage. This study aimed to assess adherence rates and to identify potential factors influencing adherence.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Rheumatology Clinic of a tertiary hospital for 8 w from May to June 2014. A total of 51 RA patients using DMARD were recruited in this study. Researcher-assisted questionnaires were utilized. The study assessed adherence by using Compliance Questionnaire on Rheumatology (CQR5) and data retrieved from pharmacy dispensing records which were measured using Medication Possession Ratio (MPR). Questionnaires to assess beliefs about medicines and satisfaction about medicine information were also used. Subsequently, associations between adherence and demographics, socioeconomics, medication, disease and patient-related factors were determined.Results: The response rate was 75%. Depending on the instruments used, 75% (CQR5) and 60% (MPR) of the patients were adherent to DMARD. Non-adherence was not associated with demographic, socioeconomic and clinical characteristics, satisfaction about medication information and medication concerns. Beliefs about the necessity of medication (r = 0.372; p = 0.007) and necessity-concerns differential (r = 0.439; p = 0.001) were moderately associated with adherence.Conclusion: Patient-related factor was associated with medication adherence in our study population. The necessity-concerns differential of medication beliefs may serve as a possible screening tool for non-adherence or target for adherence-improving intervention among RA patients.Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, Medication adherence, Medication beliefs, DMAR

النظام القانوني لوثيقة التأمين العائمة في القانون البحري

تناول البحث دراسة النظام القانوني لوثيقة التأمين العائمة, وذلك من خلال الحديث عن ماهية وثيقة التأمين العائمة, ببيان تعريفها في القانون والفقه كليهما, ومن ثمَّ بيان الطبيعة القانونية لهذه الوثيقة فيما إذا كانت بمثابة عقد تأمين نهائي أو وعدٍ بالعقد أو عقدٍ معلقٍ على شرط, وتحديد الأحكام القانونية التي تنطبق على هذه الوثيقة والتي يتم التعامل بها في مجال النقل البحري, وقد اختتمت الدراسة بخاتمة تم  فيها بيان أهم ما توصل إليه البحث من نتائج وتوصيات

Alterations in neuronal morphology and synaptophysin expression in the rat brain as a result of changes in dietary n-6: n-3 fatty acid ratios

Background: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) play important roles in brain fatty acid composition and behavior through their effects on neuronal properties and gene expression. The hippocampus plays an important role in the formation of memory, especially spatial memory and navigation. This study was conducted to examine the effects of PUFA and specifically different dietary n-6: n-3 fatty acid ratios (FAR) on the number and size of hippocampal neurons and the expression of synaptophysin protein in the hippocampus of rats. Methods: Forty 3-week old male Sprague–Dawley rats were allotted into 4 groups. The animals received experimental diets with different n-6: n-3 FAR of either 65:1, 26.5:1, 22:1 or 4.5:1 for 14 weeks. Results: The results showed that a lowering dietary n-6: n-3 FAR supplementation can increase the number and size of neurons. Moreover, lowering the dietary n-6: n-3 FAR led to an increase in the expression of the pre-synaptic protein synaptophysin in the CA1 hippocampal subregion of the rat brain. Conclusions: These findings support the notion that decreasing the dietary n-6: n-3 FAR will lead to an intensified hippocampal synaptophysin expression and increased neuron size and proliferation in the rat brain