PERFORMANCE METRICS IN VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM

Video surveillance is an active research topic in computer vision. One of the areas that are being actively researched is on the abilities of surveillance systems to track multiple objects over time in occluded scenes and to keep a consistent identity for each target object. These abilities enable a surveillance system to provide crucial information about moving objects behaviour and interaction. This survey reviews the recent developments in moving object detection and also different techniques and approaches in multiple objects tracking that have been developed by researchers. The algorithms and filters that can be incorporated in tracking multiples object to solve the occluded and natural busy scenes in surveillance systems are also reviewed in this paper. This survey is meant to provide researchers in the field with a summary of progress achieved up to date in multiple moving objects tracking. Despite recent progress in computer vision and other related areas, there are still major technical challenges that need to be solved before reliable automated video surveillance system can be realized

Smoking cessation intervention: Can diabetic patients’ change their motivation to quit and nicotine dependence?

Introduction: Considering smoking tobacco is a bad habit that drive smokers to nicotine dependence; that argue an urgent need to evaluate factors keep them smoke and how a smoking cessation intervention can affect these factors and minimize their effect. As well as intervention impact on their nicotine dependence and motivation to quit. Methods: This was a randomised controlled trial involving patients with diabetes who smoked tobacco and attended the out-patient diabetes clinic at Hospital Pulau Pinang in Malaysia. Results: Among 126 participants followed over the study period, Malays represent about 41% of the participants. No significant difference between the patients in the two groups with respect to their nicotine dependence. However repeated measures test showed a significant difference over the study period but not with respect to the groups (intervention and control) Fagerström test F (2,220) = 3.663. Significant main effects were found among participants in the different groups with respect to their motivation to quit F (1,110) = 3.975. Conclusion: changing patients behaviour may need consistent and comprehensive intervention for longer time. © 2018, Pharmainfo Publications. All rights reserved

Effects of plant growth regulators on root culture and yeast extract elicitation on metabolite profiles of Polygonum minus

There are various secondary metabolites that have been identified in Polygonum minus Huds. or kesum plant, but the production is often very low and depending on growth stage. Therefore, elicitation and in vitro techniques have been suggested as an effective way for inducing secondary metabolites production in plant. This study was conducted to determine the optimal conditions for P. minus root formation in vitro and to profile the metabolite content from P. minus root culture with and without elicitor treatment. From the root induction study, it was found that the fresh weight of induced root for nodal explant in MS liquid media supplemented with 0.5 mg/L NAA and shaken had the highest production (0.38±0.08 g) compared to other treatments including the control. The results from metabolite profile showed that the volatile compound of P. minus root produced without any elicitation contained 50.11% aliphatic (27.59% aldehide, 9.17% alkane and 13.35% others) and 19.39% sesquiterpene (β-caryophyllene, α-bergamotene, β-farnesene, α-caryophyllene dan β-curcumene) where the dodecanal compound (22.27%) and β-caryophyllene (8.09%) have the highest percentage value for aliphatic and sesquiterpene group, respectively. Moreover, elicitation of P. minus root culture using yeast extract at 100 mg/L concentration for 1 day demonstrated the ability to increase the production of secondary metabolites in many volatile compounds of kesum in vitro root including the sesquiterpene compounds compared to control treatment and other yeast extract elicitation treatments

Effects of plant growth regulators on root culture and yeast extract elicitation on metabolite profiles of Polygonum minus

There are various secondary metabolites that have been identified in Polygonum minus Huds. or kesum plant, but the production is often very low and depending on growth stage. Therefore, elicitation and in vitro techniques have been suggested as an effective way for inducing secondary metabolites production in plant. This study was conducted to determine the optimal conditions for P. minus root formation in vitro and to profile the metabolite content from P. minus root culture with and without elicitor treatment. From the root induction study, it was found that the fresh weight of induced root for nodal explant in MS liquid media supplemented with 0.5 mg/L NAA and shaken had the highest production (0.38±0.08 g) compared to other treatments including the control. The results from metabolite profile showed that the volatile compound of P. minus root produced without any elicitation contained 50.11% aliphatic (27.59% aldehide, 9.17% alkane and 13.35% others) and 19.39% sesquiterpene (β-caryophyllene, α-bergamotene, β-farnesene, α-caryophyllene dan β-curcumene) where the dodecanal compound (22.27%) and β-caryophyllene (8.09%) have the highest percentage value for aliphatic and sesquiterpene group, respectively. Moreover, elicitation of P. minus root culture using yeast extract at 100 mg/L concentration for 1 day demonstrated the ability to increase the production of secondary metabolites in many volatile compounds of kesum in vitro root including the sesquiterpene compounds compared to control treatment and other yeast extract elicitation treatments

The role of pharmacists in developing countries: the current scenario in Pakistan

During the past few years, the pharmacy profession has expanded significantly in terms of professional services delivery and now has been recognized as an important profession in the multidisciplinary provision of health care. In contrast to the situation in developed countries, pharmacists in developing countries are still underutilized and their role as health care professionals is not deemed important by either the community or other health care providers. The aim of this paper is to highlight the role of pharmacists in developing countries, particularly in Pakistan. The paper draws on the literature related to the socioeconomic and health status of Pakistan's population, along with background on the pharmacy profession in the country in the context of the current directions of health care

Case management of malaria fever at community pharmacies in Pakistan: a threat to rational drug use

Objective: To document the case management of uncomplicated malaria fever at community pharmacies located in the two major cities of Pakistan; Islamabad (national capital) and Rawalpindi (twin city). Method: A comparative, cross-sectional study was designed to document the management of uncomplicated malaria fever at community pharmacies in twin cities of Pakistan through simulated patient visits. Visits were conducted in 238 randomly selected pharmacies to request advice for a simulated patient case of malaria. The pharmacy´s management was scored on a checklist including history taking and provision of advice and information. Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare management of uncomplicated malaria fever by different types of dispensers working at community pharmacies situated at different locations in the twin cities. Results: The simulated patients were handled by salesmen (74.8%, n=178), pharmacist (5.4%, n=13) and diploma holders (19.8 %, n=47). Medication was dispensed in 83.1 % (n=198) of the visits, but only few of the treated cases were in accordance to standard treatment guidelines for malaria. However, in 14.8% (n=35) of the cases the simulated patients were directly referred to a physician. There was a significant difference observed in the process of history taking performed by different dispensers (e.g. pharmacist, pharmacy assistant, pharmacy diploma holders and salesman) while no significant differences in the provision of advice by these dispensers was observed. Pharmacists were seen more frequently involved in the process of history taking if available at the community pharmacies. On the other hand, no significant differences were observed in the case management (history taking and provision of advice) for the treatment of malaria fever among community pharmacies situated at different locations (e.g. near hospital/super market/small market) in the twin cities. Conclusion: The results of the study revealed that the overall process of disease management of uncomplicated malaria fever at community pharmacies was not in accordance with the national standard treatment guidelines for malaria. Patients were being treated by untrained personnel´s at community pharmacies without any understanding of referral. However, pharmacists were more frequently involved in history taking, though their availability was low at community pharmacies.Objetivo: Documentar el manejo de casos de malaria no complicada en farmacias comunitarias situadas en las dos principales ciudades de Pakistán: Islamabad (la capital) y Rawalpindi (ciudad gemela). Método: Se diseñó un estudio comparativo transversal para documentar el manejo de la malaria no complicada en las farmacias comunitarias de las ciudades gemelas de Pakistán mediante visitas de pacientes simulados. Se realizaron visitas a 238 farmacias aleatoriamente seleccionadas para pedir consejo en un caso de un paciente simulado con malaria. El manejo de la farmacia se puntuó en un listado que incluía la recogida del historial y la provisión de asesoramiento e información. Se utilizaron los tests de Kruskal-Wallis y de Mann-Whitney U para comparar el manejo de los casos de malaria no complicada por los dispensadores trabajando en farmacias comunitarias gestionadas por diferentes proveedores y en diferentes localizaciones de las ciudades gemelas. Resultados: Los pacientes simulados fueron atendidos por vendedores (74,8%, n=178), farmacéuticos (5,4%, n= 13), y diplomados (19,8%, n=47). Se dispensó medicación en el 83,1% (n=198) de las visitas, pero pocos de los casos tratados estaban de acuerdo con las recomendaciones para el tratamiento de la malaria. Sin embargo, en el 14,8% de los casos (n=53) los pacientes simulados fueron remitidos directamente al médico. Hubo diferencia significativa en el proceso de recogida del historial entre los diferentes dispensadores (p.e. farmacéuticos, auxiliares de farmacia, diplomados en farmacia, y vendedores), mientras que no hubo diferencias significativas en la provisión de asesoramiento entre los diferentes dispensadores. Los farmacéuticos, si estaban disponibles en la farmacia, estaban más involucrados en el proceso de recogida del historial. Por otro lado, no se apreciaron diferencias significativas en el manejo del caso (recogida del historial y provisión de asesoramiento) para el tratamiento de la malaria entre las farmacias comunitarias de diferentes localizaciones de las ciudades gemelas (p.e. cerca de un hospital/supermercado/mercadillo). Conclusión: Los resultados del estudio revelaron que el proceso general de manejo de la malaria no complicada en farmacias comunitarias no estaba de acuerdo con las recomendaciones nacionales de tratamiento de malaria. Los pacientes fueron atendidos por personal de las farmacias sin entrenamiento en las farmacias sin ninguna idea de remisión al médico. Sin embargo, los farmacéuticos estaban más involucrados en la recogida del historial, aunque su disponibilidad en las farmacias comunitarias era baja

The development, translation and validation of an instrument used in a tobacco cessation intervention study among patients with diabetes

Objective: In diabetes care, smoking cessation is a very important component that should be addressed in order to facilitate effective blood glucose control and to limit the development of complications associated with diabetes. This raises the need to evaluate patients' knowledge, attitudes, and perception toward their physicians' practices. This study aimed to develop, translate and validate a tool that can be used to evaluate diabetic patients' knowledge of diabetes, the effect of smoking on the disease, their perception of physicians' practices and their attitudes toward smoking cessation intervention. Methods: The questionnaire was developed using information from the literature. A standardized translation procedure was then used to develop a Malay version from the original English version of a previously developed questionnaire entitled, Survey on diabetes and tobacco smoking among diabetes patients.†A convenience sample of 85 out-patients with diabetes who were smokers was identified. All data were collected from the Penang General Hospital in Penang, Malaysia. The instrument consisted of items on the knowledge of the disease and the patient's attitude as well as items on physicians' practices regarding the smoking habits of the diabetic patients. Results: The mean age and body mass index of the study participants was 54.29±12.8 years and 26.40±7.6 kg/m2, respectively. Reliability was tested for both the English and Malay versions for internal consistency of the questionnaire items using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (Cronbach's alpha=0.905). Conclusion: The instrument is a reliable and valid measure of diabetes and smoking knowledge, attitude and physician practice.Scopu

THE DEVELOPMENT, TRANSLATION AND VALIDATION OF AN INSTRUMENT USED IN A TOBACCO CESSATION INTERVENTION STUDY AMONG PATIENTS WITH DIABETES

  Objective: In diabetes care, smoking cessation is a very important component that should be addressed in order to facilitate effective blood glucose control and to limit the development of complications associated with diabetes. This raises the need to evaluate patients' knowledge, attitudes, and perception toward their physicians' practices. This study aimed to develop, translate and validate a tool that can be used to evaluate diabetic patients' knowledge of diabetes, the effect of smoking on the disease, their perception of physicians' practices and their attitudes toward smoking cessation intervention.Methods: The questionnaire was developed using information from the literature. A standardized translation procedure was then used to develop a Malay version from the original English version of a previously developed questionnaire entitled, Survey on diabetes and tobacco smoking among diabetes patients.†A convenience sample of 85 out-patients with diabetes who were smokers was identified. All data were collected from the Penang General Hospital in Penang, Malaysia. The instrument consisted of items on the knowledge of the disease and the patient's attitude as well as items on physicians' practices regarding the smoking habits of the diabetic patients.Results: The mean age and body mass index of the study participants was 54.29±12.8 years and 26.40±7.6 kg/m2, respectively. Reliability was tested for both the English and Malay versions for internal consistency of the questionnaire items using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (Cronbach's alpha=0.905).Conclusion: The instrument is a reliable and valid measure of diabetes and smoking knowledge, attitude and physician practice.Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Reliability, Translation, Validation, Smoking cessatio