Evaluation of Antibacterial Potential of Artemisinin Extracts of Artemisia Annua In Vivo and In Vitro

To ensure universal health care, the World Health Organization recognized the significance of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and recommended the use of natural herbs and plants bearing therapeutic potential and fewer adverse effects. Therefore, Artemisia annua herb was evaluated for its antibacterial potential and therapeutic efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus and Escherichia coli both in vitro and in vivo. Artemisinin was extracted from Artemisia annua by chemical treatment. Subsequently, the culture sensitivity tests were performed on MHA by disk diffusion method to determine the antibacterial potential of the Artemisinin extracts against the test bacteria (in vitro phase). The results of this in vitro trial revealed that the test bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus were significantly sensitive to Artemisinin extracts and showed a diameter of 27.7 and 22.3 mm of the bacteriostatic zone, respectively, while the Escherichia coli was moderately sensitive to the Artemisinin extracts with the bacteriostatic zone of 12.9mm. During the 2nd phase of the study (in vivo trial), 20 rabbits were maintained which were infected with S. aureus and were successfully treated with varying concentrations of the Artemisinin extracts @ 1 mg/ml, 2 mg/ml and 5 mg/ml in DMSO and were recovered. Similarly, rabbits infected with Streptococcus were also successfully treated and recovered. Thereafter, rabbits infected with E. coli were treated with Artemisinin, and out of 15 rabbits in three test groups, 03 rabbits died while the others were recovered. Hence, as per findings of this study, Artemisinin extracts were recommended against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus infections

Preliminary study for customer’s online shopping satisfaction from security perspective

The objective of this paper is to present the results of preliminary study that has been performed to measure the reliability of the ques-tionnaire for collecting the quantitative data for the proposed security model of online shopping satisfaction. This paper is endeavours of our previous paper, in which we have developed the research model. Quantitative methodology was adopted to conduct the study by collecting the data through survey questionnaire based on five point Likert scale. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) ver-sion 23.0 was used to analyse the data. Results shows that the Cronbach’s alpha value to ensure the reliability of the items is ≥ 0.7, It means all our variables are acceptable for the further studies and for the actual data collection. This paper conclude that the pilot study is necessary phase to conduct before going to collect the actual data in order to avoid any ambiguity in items. Although the sample data is small for the pilot study still, it shows the strength between the related items

Comparison between NFC/RFID and bar code system for halal tags identification: Paired sample t-test evaluation

Malaysia is a modern Muslim country where the research on Halal product identification is at the peak. In this study, the authors have developed the mobile applications which is based on Radio Frequency Identification near filed communication RFID/NFC. The author first developed the database based on the data from Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia JAKIM, which is a Malaysian Halal logo identification authority then the mobile application which uses the near filed communication to detect the Halal food using the Radio Frequency Identification. In this paper authors have performed the experimental analysis by comparing the Bar code system that is compared to parallel time detected by the simple webcam for the Halal Logo Identification and the new developed RFID/NFC mobile applications. Paired sample T-Test was performed by using the SPSS 23.0 version. The results revealed that there is significantly difference between the usability, efficiency, affordability, security and satisfaction. The users are more satisfied with the newly developed mobile application as compared to old halal logo system in Malaysia

Near field communication enabled mobile payments: preliminary study

The ubiquitous computing has made consumers life easy, it has given the new way to interact with family and friends and perform many activities which were impossible in previous time. One of the profound achievement of ubiquitous computing is Mobile Payment and an advanced mode of the mobile payment is the near field communication mobile payment. In this study the authors have proposed theoreti-cal near field communication mobile payment model that is based on extended unified technology acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2) .In this paper, the author have performed the pilot study to validate the variables and to verify their reliability among the proposed items. The results has proven that there is a reliability among the items in variables, as the Cronbach’s alpha value for the vari-ables is above or equal to 0.7

Epidemiological Survey of Bovine Babesia and Theileria Parasites in Buffaloes in District Dera Ismail, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Piroplasmosis (babesiosis and theileriosis) are the leading blood parasites responsible for significant economic losses to the dairy enterprises. These parasites are transmitted by Ixodid ticks from a diseased animal to a healthy animal. This study was executed to determine the prevalence of Theileria and Babesia in water buffaloes in District Dera Ismail Khan for their risk assessment. During this trial, 350 random blood samples were obtained from buffalos within the region of District Dera Ismail Khan and examined for Babesia and Theileria parasites using Giemsa staining technique under an oil immersion lens. Forty-eight blood samples were found positive and the prevalence of Babesiosis was 7.43 %, followed by the prevalence of Theileriosis (6.28 %). Babesiosis had a significantly higher (p \u3c 0.05) prevalence among both males and females (6.9 % and 7.7 %, respectively) followed by Theileria (5.38 % and 6.8 %, respectively). The significantly highest (p \u3c 0.05) prevalence of Theileria was seen in calves younger than 2 years (16.7 %). Babesiosis was most prevalent (p \u3c 0.05) in calves aged 2 to 5 (11.7 %). The Kundhi buffalo breed had the highest (p \u3c 0.05) prevalence of babesiosis, followed by the Nili Ravi breed, while, the Nili Ravi breed had the highest frequency (p \u3c 0.05)of Theileria. Piroplasmosis prevalence significantly (p \u3c 0.05) peaked in the summer season. Piroplasmosisis the major risk factor in endangering the general health of the buffalo’s population, therefore, stringent control measures are recommended for the management of the tick population

A review of arthritis diagnosis techniques in artificial intelligence era: Current trends and research challenges

Deep learning, a branch of artificial intelligence, has achieved unprecedented performance in several domains including medicine to assist with efficient diagnosis of diseases, prediction of disease progression and pre-screening step for physicians. Due to its significant breakthroughs, deep learning is now being used for the diagnosis of arthritis, which is a chronic disease affecting young to aged population. This paper provides a survey of recent and the most representative deep learning techniques (published between 2018 to 2020) for the diagnosis of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The paper also reviews traditional machine learning methods (published 2015 onward) and their application for the diagnosis of these diseases. The paper identifies open problems and research gaps. We believe that deep learning can assist general practitioners and consultants to predict the course of the disease, make treatment propositions and appraise their potential benefits

Struggling with long-time low uptake of modern contraceptives in Pakistan

Background: Efforts to expand access to reproductive health care in Pakistan date as far back as the early 1950s. Despite such efforts, the fertility rate has declined at a slower pace compared to that in neighbouring countries.Aims: To explore the underlying reasons and challenges for long-time low contraceptive use among female clients and key service providers of community-based family planning programmes in Pakistan.Methods: A qualitative study was carried out with a total of 10 focus group discussions and 7 in-depth interviews with female clients and key service providers. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.Results: The intra-family dynamics, that is, influence of husbands and mothers-in-law, were significant in shaping the decision-making and choice of family planning methods. In addition, inadequate counselling skills, insufficient training for service providers, weak supportive supervision, interrupted supply of contraceptives, and delays in salary disbursement were among the key family planning programme challenges.Conclusion: Despite a well-designed community-based FP programme, providers\u27 counselling skills need to be enhanced. However, this has to be combined with sufficient training, supportive supervision and contraceptive availability

Effects of socioeconomic characteristics on online purchase intention among Malaysians

Online shopping has gained high popularity across all groups of society in Malaysia since its commencement and continued to grow every day. Malaysia being the central hub of South-East Asia has been considered as a favourite place for shopaholic people for physical shopping and the same trend is seen in terms of online shopping. While the socioeconomic characteristics of society have been studied to measure various consumer behaviours within different contexts including Malaysia. However, the Malaysians attitude towards online purchase behaviour is one of the significant areas that need to be investigated, hence, this study focuses on measuring the socioeconomic attitude towards online purchase intention. A total of 400 complete questionnaire were collected by using convenience sampling method within shopping malls of Klang Valley region through face to face questionnaires distribution technique. Two inferential statistical tests were used to measure the relationship between various characteristics of socioeconomics group towards the online purchase intention. These tests were independent sample T-test and univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA). A T-test was used to evaluate the effect of gender towards the online purchase intention, whereas one-way ANOVA was performed to check the significant effect of age, monthly income, and education towards the online purchase intention. The results revealed that there is a significant difference based on the age and income; while individuals with higher income shop more as compared to individuals with less income and the individuals within the income group of 5000 to 7000 shop more as compared to other income groups. Whereas, individuals between the age group of 41 to 50 shopped more as compared to other age groups. Furthermore, the results also revealed that there was no significant difference found in terms of gender and education, male and female shopped online despite of their gender and education background