Food Product Packaging: As an Influential Element on Consumer Buying Behavior

Food product packaging can be used as an aggressive promotional strategy in modern marketing era that can eventually change the consumer’s mind set at purchasing point. Study conducted to explore and investigate food product packaging as an influencing factor over consumer buying behavior in Pakistani perspective.  This research aimed to measured positive/negative impact of food product packaging attributes on consumers purchasing pattern. Products packaging attributes; package design, color, labeling, shape & size can make a strong impact if used properly with food items. A sample of 203 respondents taken from total population was selected on convenience sampling and surveyed using online questionnaire and on social media poll. The questionnaire implied to the structured and based on 5 points likert scale questions& discuss each food category in accordance with the packaging attributes. The study used frequencies and descriptive statistics, correlation approach and ANOVA table for the analysis. Findings revealed that highest percentage of customers are females; according to Pakistani family structure. She might be buyer, influencer, decision maker and recommender at store. Result shows strong positive correlation (0.371**) between product packaging & consumer buying behavior. Overall, calculation shows strong positive combination as fisher’s value (32.122) is too high to defend it. This study clearly identifies the food items package a mean for producing purchasing interest. Keywords: aggressive promotional strategy, packaging attributes, consumer purchasing attributes

Innovation in Education - Inclusion of 3D-Printing Technology in Modern Education System of Pakistan: Case from Pakistani Educational Institutes

On this research, the traditional education system of Pakistan has been analyzed in comparison to international modern education system with 3D printing technology. Also how this technology results in revolutionizing current education system and its future aspects. The study adopted semi-structured interviews to solicit an understanding of teachers, students and 3D printing service providers on the inclusion of this prototyping technology in Pakistani education system. Content analysis technique was used to analyze the data and verbatim texts were applied in discussing the emergent themes. The findings indicate that teachers and students are really motivated and convinced that prototyping technology will bring another revolution in education system of Pakistan near future, just like computers. They rely so much on modern learning techniques to present innovative ideas in tangible forms. They were influenced by this technology in their current practices and mentioned that primary and basic education should adapt this technology to create better understanding to innovative minds. The paper identifies key contribution of 3D printing technology as a factor in state development. This study will be significant and gainful for educationist, understudies and individual working in the field of prototype development and customization who wish to see how the field has developed and evolved as well as the individuals who are occupied with way for future research. Keywords: 3D printing technology, prototyping, traditional education system, Pakistan

INNOVATION IN EDUCATION - Inclusion of 3D-Printing Technology in Modern Education System of Pakistan: Case from Pakistani Educational Institutes

On this research, the traditional education system of Pakistan has been analyzed in comparison to international modern education system with 3D printing technology. Also how this technology results in revolutionizing current education system and its future aspects. The study adopted semi-structured interviews to solicit an understanding of teachers, students and 3D printing service providers on the inclusion of this prototyping technology in Pakistani education system. Content analysis technique was used to analyze the data and verbatim texts were applied in discussing the emergent themes. The findings indicate that teachers and students are really motivated and convinced that prototyping technology will bring another revolution in education system of Pakistan near future, just like computers. They rely so much on modern learning techniques to present innovative ideas in tangible forms. They were influenced by this technology in their current practices and mentioned that primary and basic education should adapt this technology to create better understanding to innovative minds. The paper identifies key contribution of 3D printing technology as a factor in state development. This study will be significant and gainful for educationist, understudies and individual working in the field of prototype development and customization who wish to see how the field has developed and evolved as well as the individuals who are occupied with way for future research. Keywords: 3D printing technology, prototyping, traditional education system, Pakistan.

Carotid Intima Media Thickness Percentiles for Pakistani Population

Carotid artery intima media thickness estimation is a well-established way of cardio vascular disease evaluation. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to develop normal carotid intima media thickness percentile values for a Pakistani cohort. Data was collected at the Departments of Radiology and Family Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from April 2014 to August 2015. High frequency ultrasound of carotid was done in 257 patients [97 male (38%), 160 female (62%)] without any known carotid artery disease. Reference ranges (90% range between 5th and 95th centiles) were constructed for each common carotid and internal carotid artery measurement and displayed in graph form. The mean difference was found in left common carotid artery (0.55 ±0.13) and left internal carotid artery thickness (0.50 ±0.10) significant at p=0.031 and p=0.014, respectively. The IMTpercentile graphs developed in this study for internal and common carotid arteries are exclusive for this population and can be used to assess vascular health from ultrasound measurements

Carotid intima media thickness evaluation by ultrasound comparison amongst healthy, diabetic and hypertensive Pakistani patients

Objective: To compare carotid Intima media thickness and atherosclerosis burden amongst healthy, diabetic and hypertensive Pakistani patients.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at the Department of radiology and family medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi from April 2014 to July 2015. Bilateral carotid ultrasound was done in 133 healthy adults, 65 hypertensive, 31 type-2 diabetic and 37 hypertensive with type-2 diabetes patients. Normal adults were matched for age and gender. Mean intimal media thickness was measured for common and internal carotid arteries. Presence or absence of atherosclerotic plaque was also identified. Height, weight, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and other risk factors were also assessed. Ultrasound findings were compared between healthy and diseased patients through statistical tests.Results: A total of 266 patients participated (Controls=133, Hypertensive=65, Diabetic=31, and Diabetes with Hypertension=37). There was no significant difference in the baseline characteristics between the four patients\u27 groups for age (p\u3e0.05) and gender (p\u3e0.05). The mean carotid intima media thickenss of right common carotid artery was significantly higher in patients with diabetes along with hypertension as compared to the control group (p=0.03). For (RICA) Right Internal Carotid Artery, (LCCA) Left Common Carotid Artery and (LICA) Left Internal Carotid Artery, there was a significantly higher thickness among patients with hypertension as compared to the control group with p=0.011, p=0.002, and p=0.039 respectively.Conclusion: Increased CIMT is most likely associated with underlying chronic diseases. Ultrasound is a non-invasive, easily available and useful modality for early detection and prevention of vascular atherosclerosis

Effect of Food Product Packaging on the Perception of Buyers Study Based on Food Product Packaging as an Important Tool from Traditional to Modern World

The study was conducted to investigate food product packaging as an affecting factor over general perception of buyer at purchasing point. This research measured the impact (overall positive or negative) of most important factors; food product packaging attributes over consumers buying behavior. Packaging attributes plays vital role in building perception while customer makes purchasing decisions on different food product categories. A sample of 203 respondents taken from total population was randomly selected on convenience sampling and surveyed using online questionnaire and social media pole. The questionnaire implied to the structured and based on 5 points likert scale questions. The study used simple descriptive statistics, correlation approach and ANOVA table for the analysis. Findings of the research revealed that the highest percentage involved in food product purchasing are female; according to Pakistani market with strong positive correlation (0.592**) between the consumer buying patterns due to the attractive packaging in food items. Overall, the calculation shows the strong positive combination between these two factors. This study clearly identifies the food items package a mean for producing purchasing interest. Keywords: Perception, Food packaging attributes, Product categories, purchasing interes

Molecular characterization of Deciphering Fungal Community structure in Zea mays L. and Triticum Aestivum L

Rhizosphere fungi are strongly associated with plant growth and health by providing nutrients and antagonizing pathogens. Commercially, fungus has multipurpose applications in several sectors including beverages, food items and in medicines. Current study aimed to reveal the core fungal community structure of the two leading cereal crops that are Zea mays L. and Triticum aestivum L. The rhizosphere fungal community was explored via morphology, biochemistry and internal transcribe spacer (ITS) metagenomics. On the basis of morphology, the retrieved fungal strains were imprecisely classified into Ascomycota and Zygomycota. The species including Yeast, Botyritis californica, Rhizopus stolonifer, Alternaria tenuissima, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger and Microsporum canis were identified on the basis of macroscopy and microscope. Moreover, the biochemical characterization depicted the role of fungi in promotion of plant growth. Majority of the isolates depicted catalase activity, indole production, phosphate solubilization, ammonia production, nitrogenase activity and urease activity. Metagenomics using amplicon sequencing of ITS region revealed the presence of 805 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) with 647 OTUs in Zea mays and 620 OTUs in Triticum aestivum. The fungal phyla found in the rhizosphere of  Zea mays L. and Triticum aestivum L. were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Zygomycota, Chytridiomycota, Incertae sedis fungi. Ascomycota accounted for 93% and 95% of classified fungi in rhizosphere of Zea mays L. and Triticum aestivum L. respectively. The dominant species found in the rhizosphere soil of Zea mays were Gibberella intricans, Curvularia lunata, Lepidosphaeria nicotiae, Edenia gomezpompae and Myrothecium verrucaria

Molecular characterization of Deciphering Fungal Community structure in Zea mays L. and Triticum Aestivum L

Rhizosphere fungi are strongly associated with plant growth and health by providing nutrients and antagonizing pathogens. Commercially, fungus has multipurpose applications in several sectors including beverages, food items and in medicines. Current study aimed to reveal the core fungal community structure of the two leading cereal crops that are Zea mays L. and Triticum aestivum L. The rhizosphere fungal community was explored via morphology, biochemistry and internal transcribe spacer (ITS) metagenomics. On the basis of morphology, the retrieved fungal strains were imprecisely classified into Ascomycota and Zygomycota. The species including Yeast, Botyritis californica, Rhizopus stolonifer, Alternaria tenuissima, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger and Microsporum canis were identified on the basis of macroscopy and microscope. Moreover, the biochemical characterization depicted the role of fungi in promotion of plant growth. Majority of the isolates depicted catalase activity, indole production, phosphate solubilization, ammonia production, nitrogenase activity and urease activity. Metagenomics using amplicon sequencing of ITS region revealed the presence of 805 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) with 647 OTUs in Zea mays and 620 OTUs in Triticum aestivum. The fungal phyla found in the rhizosphere of  Zea mays L. and Triticum aestivum L. were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Zygomycota, Chytridiomycota, Incertae sedis fungi. Ascomycota accounted for 93% and 95% of classified fungi in rhizosphere of Zea mays L. and Triticum aestivum L. respectively. The dominant species found in the rhizosphere soil of Zea mays were Gibberella intricans, Curvularia lunata, Lepidosphaeria nicotiae, Edenia gomezpompae and Myrothecium verrucaria

Simulation and Analysis of T-Junction Microchannel

Microelectromechanical (MEMS) bring the great revolution in microfluidics. Particularly microchannels are extensively studied in last few years. This paper presents the microfluidic analysis of T-junction type microchannel. ANSYS has been used for microfluidic analysis. The length of microchannel is 1000 µm and length of T-junction is 500 µm. The diameter of microchannel is 100 µm. The velocity and fluid flow variation through the T-junction have been analyzed in computational fluid dynamic (CFX) environment at applied pressure of 100 kPa, 200 kPa and 300 kPa. The maximum velocities vector at the T-Junction walls 3.910e1, 5.701e1 and 7.734e1 have been achieved. The flow rates of 341, 572 and 673 mL/min have been observed through the microchannel with diameters of 100 µm