Neural networks and support vector machines based bio-activity classification

Classification of various compounds into their respective biological activity classes is important in drug discovery applications from an early phase virtual compound filtering and screening point of view. In this work two types of neural networks, multi layer perceptron (MLP) and radial basis functions (RBF), and support vector machines (SVM) were employed for the classification of three types of biologically active enzyme inhibitors. Both of the networks were trained with back propagation learning method with chemical compounds whose active inhibition properties were previously known. A group of topological indices, selected with the help of principle component analysis (PCA) were used as descriptors. The results of all the three classification methods show that the performance of both the neural networks is better than the SVM

Factors associated with the compliance of standard precaution; review article

Compliance with standard precautions is very important for healthcare workers because studies have shown that it helps in minimising the transmission of infectious diseases and healthcare-associated infections which is directly proportional to the patient cost and stay of the patient in hospitals. As healthcare associated infections increase, the cost and the stay of the patient will increase. Researchers suggest that all healthcare workers need to follow the standard precautions guideline and it can be possible with the help of health education, training, provision of equipment and supervision by the management. Barriers to the compliance identified are lack of education, heavy workload, unavailability of equipment, lack of resources and lack of access to supplies. The lack of education and heavy workload are the major factors faced by the nurses

Prevalence of needlestick injury and nursing practices regarding safe injection and sharp disposal while working in critical care settings of two tertiary care hospitals

This observational cross-sectional study design (Pilot) was conducted to assess the prevalence of needle stick injury (NSI) and nursing practices regarding safe injection and sharp disposal in critical care units of two tertiary care hospitals from 1st July to 30th August 2014. Data was collected using a self-developed questionnaire about the prevalence of NSI and nurses’ pract­ices regarding safe injection and sharp disposal after a thorough literature review and then was given to the expert for review. Finally, the data was collected from the participants after verbal consent. The study result showing that about half of the nurses have no knowledge regarding the disposal of sharp and it has been found that 47.8% re-cap the needle before disposal. While 32.6% reported needle prick injury. The study concluded that inadequate knowledge among nurses about safe nursing practices and lack of using preventive measures from NSI were identified. Lack of reporting is also a factor identified in this study

Influence of Prognostic Group Classification of Advanced Male Germ Cell Tumor on Treatment Outcomes

Objective: To investigate the influence of IGCCCG prognostic group classification and histology on treatment outcomes in our local Male Germ Cell Tumors population. Design: It was an observational study. Subjects: Fifty patients diagnosed with advanced male germ cell cancer completing first line treatment, between 2011- 2014. Intervention(s): Patients with proper follow-up record of 5 years post-treatment were included. Patients were classified into good, intermediate and poor prognostic groups according to IGCCCG criteria. Main Outcome Measure(s): The outcomes of all three prognostic groups were measured including response to first line treatment according to MSKCC criteria and five years OS. Survival rates were calculated using Kaplan and Meier method. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Mean age of patients was 30.6 years + 9.49 years. Major primary site of involvement was right testicle i.e.56.0%. Complete response was observed in 23 (46.0%) patients. The patients classified into good prognostic group (n=29) had significantly superior (p=0.002) five years OS (86.2%, n= 25). Additionally, CR was higher in seminoma i.e. 12 (63.15%) while it was limited to 11(35.48%) in NSGCT; however, inferior response rate in NSGCT did not translate into statistical significance in 5 years OS. Conclusion: The IGCCCG prognostic groups are an effective tool for predicting treatment outcomes in terms of 5 y Overall survival in our local population and histology plays a secondary role in this regard

Forecasting Major Food Crops Production in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,Pakistan

The present study was undertaken to investigate forecasting of major food crops production in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The study was based on secondary data covers a period of about 30 years i.e. starting from 1984-85 to 2013-14, whereas, ARIMA modeling has been employed to fit the best time series model for major food crops production i.e. wheat, maize, sugarcane and rice. It reveals through the results that for major food crops production, the time series models which were found to be most suitable are as ARIMA (0, 2, 1), ARIMA (1, 2, 3), ARIMA (0, 2, 1) and random model ARIMA (0, 1, 0) respectively based on forecast evaluation criteria. It was concluded from the results of analyzed data that time series models were found adequate for forecasting major food crops production in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.   

Preparation and Evaluation of Olive Apple Blended Leather

The aim of the study was to evaluate a suitable combination of olive and apple pulp for the preparation of olive apple blended leather, stored at ambient temperature. The treatments were T0, T1, T2 and T3. The samples were wrapped in aluminum foil and then packed in polyethylene plastic bags and evaluation was carried out for a total period of 150 days. Physiochemically analysis; acidity and moisture and sensory characteristics; color, texture, taste and overall acceptability (using Larmond Scale) were evaluated at 30 days interval. A significant decrease was recorded in moisture (from 13.60% to 11.53%), color (from7.20 to 4.60), taste (from 7.53 to 5.40), texture (from 7.23 to 5.13) and overall acceptability (from 7.33 to 4.85). A significant increase was recorded in acidity (from 0.67% to 0.84%). Among all the treatments T3 was found most acceptable both physiochemically and organoleptically

Determinants of Vaccine Hesitancy and Refusal in Children of District Swabi Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to evaluate factors associated with vaccine hesitancy and refusal at District Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a teaching hospital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa District Swabi over a period of four months. Children between the ages of 9 months to 10 years from the local population admitted to the children ward/daycare centre were included in the study. Parents were inquired about vaccination status and in case of no vaccination or partial vaccination; then the reason was inquired after proper informed consent. Data were collected by using a structured proforma and analyzed using SPSS-24. RESULTS: A total of 828 children were included in this study. Out of these 492 (59.4%) were male and 336 (40.6%) were females. Of the total 828 children, 753 (90.9%) were vaccinated up to date, 48 (5.8%) were not vaccinated and 27 (3.3%) were partially vaccinated. Under vaccinated were 75 patients, 52% were left out due to misconception/beliefs, 6% patients were having issues due to living far away, 2.7% patients could not be vaccinated due to presence of other diseases and 37.3% due to lack of knowledge regarding vaccination. A significant correlation was found between the vaccination status of children and aforementioned reasons (p-value ≤0.001). CONCLUSION: The most common cause of not vaccinating children with polio vaccines was misconceptions/beliefs and lack of knowledge of the parents

Prudent Macro Management of the Economy and Inward FDI in ASEAN Member States

The current research work considers the effect of prudent macroeconomic management of the host economy on inward foreign direct investment in Association of South East Asian Nations member states. This research use annual data of nine ASEAN countries namely: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam for twenty years from 1991 to 2010. The results obtained with random effect panel estimation technique manifests the importance of judicious management of the economy. Steady but relatively slow and predictable decline of the host currency exchange rate have a positive significant effect. However, contrary to expectations inflation though have a negative sway still the effect is insignificant. The conventional FDI location drivers such as market size, development level, and provision of human capital proxied by tertiary education also exert a significant positive sway. Contrary to theoretic wisdom extent of economic liberalisation and primary or secondary education had the expected coefficient but failed to reach the needed significance level

Effectiveness of standard precautions in the prevention of COVID-19

Background: COVID-19 is the novel pandemic that has caused exponential deaths worldwide and damaged health care systems of developed as well as developing regions. Many of the HCWs across the countries are getting affected by this infection and losing their lives.Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the level of compliance with SPs for the prevention of COVID-19 transmission among HCWs and identify its associated factors.Methods: An analytical cross sectional study was conducted on 877 HCWs in nine different tertiary care hospitals of Sindh. HCWs were retrieved using universal sampling. Data was collected using self-reporting questionnaire. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied using a forward stepwise technique. The variable studied included SPs’ compliance and Demographics, SPs’ Knowledge, Knowledge and organizational factors.Results: Logistic regression analysis confirmed various factors including some highly significant factors. The lack of knowledge regarding gloves for central lines, OR: 3.15 (95%CI: 1.29-7.68), providing bath OR: 6.60 (95%CI: 2.95-14.78), Non-compliant HCWs due to lack of management interest OR: 6.73, (95% CI: 4.01-11.29), HCWs following protections against HCAIs; OR: 3.52, (95% CI: 2.20-5.64). HCWs noncompliance with mask; OR: 6.73, (95% CI: 3.92-11.55) and HCWs knowledge about protection; OR: 3.61, (95% CI: 1.43-9.15).Conclusion: Lack of knowledge, practices, and as well, as lack of the hospital administrative interest toward the safety of the employee\u27s standard precaution regarding COVID-19 prevention were the main associated factors identified in our study. These factors should be addressed to increase compliance among HCWs