Will Guarantee, Guarantee Companies a Door to Door Sale?

The aim of the study is to understand the value perception of consumers towards cosmetic brands and the guarantees they provide for creating trust. This study seeks to identify the attitude of consumers regarding a new distribution channel for the cosmetic companies in Pakistan. Furthermore, it will help generate new business avenues for cosmetic brands to offer their products and maximize their reach to far flung areas where there are no shopping malls. The results of the study unveiled that door to door selling offers convenience, health safety in pandemic and privacy to consumers however it also poses security issues to consumers. Moreover, door to door selling has a negative perception in Pakistan and needs high efforts to change the image of door to door selling. It will help in poverty reduction in this Covid-19 Pandemic, as semi literate to literate people of every age and genders can engage in some profitable activity and thus generating income, resulting a boost in economy. Pakistan’s population is comprised majority of women. They can benefit from this study because they can do a part time job and generate income in these testing times

Algorithmic as well as Space and Time comparison of various Deep Learning Algorithms

Deep learning is an artificial intelligence subfield within machine learning. Now- a-days, deep learning has been used in various applications like computer vision, natural language processing, speech recognition, social network filtering, neural machine translation, etc. Deep learning, Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is a set of deep neural networks mainly designed for image analysis. Deep learning strong ability is mainly due to multiple feature extraction. In this pa- per, we will discuss and compare AlexNet,VGGNet-16,Residual Network(ResNet-50,101,152)

Implications of Cultural Capital in Women’s Higher Education Participation and Social Mobility

Equality of opportunity in higher education participation is a basic right of people in a society that leads to their social mobility in the long run. Benadusi (2002) endorsed Bourdieu’s explanations that cultural capital acts as an empowering force that predetermines equality/inequality of educational opportunity of people in a society. The study, thus, aimed to explore cultural capital as means of participation in higher education and eventually social mobility of women. A cross sectional survey was used to collect data from 103 working and 97 non-working women using purposive and convenience sampling. The study found positive relation of cultural capital of women with their participation in higher education and social mobility. Significant difference was also found between cultural capitals of working and non- working women, where cultural capital of working women was high as compared to non-working. The study therefore, concludes that education for women must be the core value of our society to enhance their cultural capital as well as social mobility in a society. Because higher is the cultural capital of women; higher would be their participation rate in higher education and social mobility for them.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis subverts the TLR-2 - MyD88 pathway to facilitate its translocation into the cytosol

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) has evolved mechanisms to evade its destruction in phagolysosomes, where it successfully survives and replicates within phagocytes. Recent studies have shown that virulent strains of M.tb can translocate from the phagosome into the cytosol of dendritic cells (DC). The molecular mechanisms by which virulent M.tb strains can escape the phagosome remain unknown. Here we show that the virulent M.tb strain H37Rv, but not the vaccine strain Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), escapes from the phagolysosome and enters the cytosol by interfering with the TLR-2-MyD88 signaling pathway. Using H37Rv mutants, we further demonstrate that the region of difference-1 (RD-1) locus and ESAT-6, a gene within the RD-1 locus, play an important role in the capacity of M.tb to migrate from the phagosome to the cytosol of macrophages. H37Rv, BCG, H37RvΔRD1, and H37RvΔESAT6 were able to translocate to the cytosol in macrophages derived from TLR-2- and MyD88-deficient animals, whereas only virulent H37Rv was able to enter the cytosol in macrophages from wild type mice. Therefore, signaling through the TLR-2–MyD88 pathway in macrophages plays an important role in confining M.tb within phagolysomes. Virulent strains of M.tb have evolved mechanisms to subvert this pathway, thus facilitating their translocation to the cytosol and to escape the toxic microenvironment of the phagosome or phagolysosome

Knowledge of Pubertal Changes and Self-Care in Adolescent Boys

OBJECTIVES: The proportion of adolescents population has grown rapidly since last decade. Pakistan is among those countries having largest youth population in the world. These adolescents have some common misconceptions about pubertal changes. The purpose of this study was to determine perceptions and practices of adolescents’ boys about puberty, and to assess effectiveness of educational sessions on knowledge of adolescents about puberty at secondary school F.B. area Karachi. METHODS: Time series pre and post quasi-experimental design was used to conduct the study. Need assessment was done to assess adolescent needs of Secondary School students. On the basis of need assessment session were arranged for the student of class VIII, IX & X. Pre & Post mean score of knowledge was calculated to see the effectiveness of the sessions. RESULTS: Over all Fifty-eight participants were enrolled in the study. However, for need assessment 15 subjects were selected. Approximately half of the participants were unaware about their pubertal age. 73.33% of the adolescents reported that they felt shame and hypersensitive over the physical changes they experience in pubertal age group. Interestingly, 53.33% of the adolescents reported that they talk about these changes with their parents. Pre-test mean score was 4.12 with standard deviation of ±1.339, while Post-test means score was 5.43 and standard deviation was ±1.523. Adolescent scores improved from 4.12 in Pre-test to 5.43 in Post-test. CONCLUSION: In conclusion the adolescent boys feel hypersensitive over physical changes they experience in pubertal age group. Most of them have misconceptions about puberty, which may lead to poor physical and mental health. The knowledge of adolescents regarding puberty significantly improved after educational sessions

Mycobacterium tuberculosis TlyA protein negatively regulates T helper (Th) 1 and Th17 differentiation and promotes tuberculosis pathogenesis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, is an ancient pathogen and a major cause of death worldwide. Although various virulence factors of M. tuberculosis have been identified, its pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. TlyA is a virulence factor in several bacterial infections and is evolutionarily conserved in many Gram-positive bacteria, but its function in M. tuberculosis pathogenesis has not been elucidated. Here, we report that TlyA significantly contributes to the pathogenesis of M. tuberculosis. We show that a TlyA mutant M. tuberculosis strain induces increased IL-12 and reduced IL-1β and IL-10 cytokine responses, which sharply contrasts with the immune responses induced by wild type M. tuberculosis. Furthermore, compared with wild type M. tuberculosis, TlyA-deficient M. tuberculosis bacteria are more susceptible to autophagy in macrophages. Consequently, animals infected with the TlyA mutant M. tuberculosis organisms exhibited increased host-protective immune responses, reduced bacillary load, and increased survival compared with animals infected with wild type M. tuberculosis. Thus, M. tuberculosis employs TlyA as a host evasion factor, thereby contributing to its virulence

Factors Affecting Bank-specific and Macroeconomic profitability Determinants of Islamic and Conventional Banks in Pakistan

This empirical research aims to look at the factors that mark the financial performance of Islamic and traditional banking sector in Pakistan. Theresults of the data signify that gross domestic product and inflation is connectedtothefinancialperformanceofIslamicbanks in all aspectsof profitability ratios and grossdomesticproducthasinsignificantrelation with the return on equity and assets ofconventionalbanks.Inflation has a weighty effect on return of assets of conventional banks.Further results indicate a negative impact of bank size on return of assets Islamic and positive impact on conventional banks. Anegativeimpact of banksizeonreturnonequityofIslamicandpositiveimpactonconventional banks. There is no performance impact of bank size on price earnings ratio. Results alsoindicatethatanegativeperformanceimpactofageofbankonreturn on assets of Islamic and traditional banks

Semen IgM, IgG1, and IgG3 Differentially Associate With Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in HIV-Infected Men

Genital inflammation significantly increases the risk for HIV infection. The seminal environment is enriched in pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Here, we investigated the interplay between semen cytokines and humoral immunity to understand whether the characteristics of semen antibodies are associated with genital inflammation. In 36 HIV-infected and 40 HIV-uninfected mens' semen, HIV-specific antibodies (gp120, gp41, p66, and p24), immunoglobulin (Ig) subclasses, isotypes and cytokines, using multiplex assays, were measured. Semen IgG1, IgG3, and IgM were significantly higher in HIV-infected compared to HIV-uninfected men (p < 0.05). In HIV-uninfected men, pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 significantly correlated with IgG1 and total IgG (IgG1+IgG2+IgG3+IgG4) (both r≥0.55; p≤0.001). Total IgG in HIV-infected men correlated to HIV-specific antibodies in the semen irrespective of antiretroviral (ARV) use. In HIV-infected, ARV-treated men, p66 and gp41-specific antibodies were inversely correlated with IL-6 and MIP-1α (both r≥−0.65, p≤0.03). In HIV-infected, ARV-naïve men, p24 and gp120-specific antibodies correlated significantly with pro-inflammatory TNF-α (r≥0.44, p≤0.03), while p24 antibodies correlated significantly with chemokine MIP-1β (r = 0.45; p = 0.02). Local cytokines/chemokines were associated with the mucosal-specific Ig subclasses which likely effect specific antibody functions. Together, these data inform on mucosal-specific immunity that may be elicited in the male genital tract (MGT) in future vaccines and/or combination HIV prevention strategies

TylA has an essential virulence role in mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogenesis.

Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Microbiology. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Medical School 2015.Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb), the causative agent of the disease tuberculosis, is an ancient pathogen and a major cause of death worldwide. Although various virulence factors of M.tb have been identified, its pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. TlyA is a virulence factor that is evolutionarily conserved in many gram-positive bacteria, but its function in the pathogenesis of infection with M.tb has not been elucidated. Here, we report that TlyA cause translocation of M.tb from phagolysosome into the cytosol in murine macrophages, which is the key to mycobacterial pathogenesis. In this study we also showed that TlyA mutant M.tb strain induces increased IL-12 and reduced IL-1β and IL-10 cytokine responses, which is in contrast to the immune responses induced by wild type M.tb. Mice infected with TlyA deficient mutant M.tb organisms exhibited increased host protective immune responses, reduced bacillary load, and increased survival compared with animals infected with wild type M.tb. Therefore it is likely that M.tb employs TlyA as a host evasion factor, thereby contributing to its virulence

Preventive HIV Vaccines-Leveraging on Lessons from the Past to Pave the Way Forward

Almost four decades on, since the 1980’s, with hundreds of HIV vaccine candidates tested in both non-human primates and humans, and several HIV vaccines trials later, an efficacious HIV vaccine continues to evade us. The enormous worldwide genetic diversity of HIV, combined with HIV’s inherent recombination and high mutation rates, has hampered the development of an effective vaccine. Despite the advent of antiretrovirals as pre-exposure prophylaxis and preventative treatment, which have shown to be effective, HIV infections continue to proliferate, highlighting the great need for a vaccine. Here, we provide a brief history for the HIV vaccine field, with the most recent disappointments and advancements. We also provide an update on current passive immunity trials, testing proof of the concept of the most clinically advanced broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies for HIV prevention. Finally, we include mucosal immunity, the importance of vaccine-elicited immune responses and the challenges thereof in the most vulnerable environment–the female genital tract and the rectal surfaces of the gastrointestinal tract for heterosexual and men who have sex with men transmissions, respectively