USING FACEBOOK BRAND COMMUNITIES TO ENGAGE CUSTOMERS: A NEW PERSPECTIVE OF RELATIONSHIP MARKETING

With the advent of digital age, engaging customers on social networking sites has become a crucial marketing activity of companies. This study, through a questionnaire survey of 320 students in India, explores the role of customer engagement in enhancing customer relationships on Facebook brand communities so as to add value to the company. The direct effect of customer participation on word of mouth as well as an indirect effect through the mediation of customer engagement is investigated. The results show a positive relationship between customer participation and word of mouth, results also delineate that customer participation leads to customer engagement, which in turn plays a crucial role in generating word of mouth. This study is the first of its kind in Indian context.&nbsp

SARS-CoV-2 Syncytium under the Radar: Molecular Insights of the Spike-Induced Syncytia and Potential Strategies to Limit SARS-CoV-2 Replication

SARS-CoV-2 infection induces non-physiological syncytia when its spike fusogenic protein on the surface of the host cells interacts with the ACE2 receptor on adjacent cells. Spike-induced syncytia are beneficial for virus replication, transmission, and immune evasion, and contribute to the progression of COVID-19. In this review, we highlight the properties of viral fusion proteins, mainly the SARS-CoV-2 spike, and the involvement of the host factors in the fusion process. We also highlight the possible use of anti-fusogenic factors as an antiviral for the development of therapeutics against newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and how the fusogenic property of the spike could be exploited for biomedical applications

Study and analysis of motion artifacts for ambulatory electroencephalography

Motion artifacts contribute complexity in acquiring clean electroencephalography (EEG) data. It is one of the major challenges for ambulatory EEG. The performance of mobile health monitoring, neurological disorders diagnosis and surgeries can be significantly improved by reducing the motion artifacts. Although different papers have proposed various novel approaches for removing motion artifacts, the datasets used to validate those algorithms are questionable. In this paper, a unique EEG dataset was presented where ten different activities were performed. No such previous EEG recordings using EMOTIV EEG headset are available in research history that explicitly mentioned and considered a number of daily activities that induced motion artifacts in EEG recordings. Quantitative study shows that in comparison to correlation coefficient, the coherence analysis depicted a better similarity measure between motion artifacts and motion sensor data. Motion artifacts were characterized with very low frequency which overlapped with the Delta rhythm of the EEG. Also, a general wavelet transform based approach was presented to remove motion artifacts. Further experiment and analysis with more similarity metrics and longer recording duration for each activity is required to finalize the characteristics of motion artifacts and henceforth reliably identify and subsequently remove the motion artifacts in the contaminated EEG recordings

Still birth classification: Application of relevant condition at death (ReCoDe) classification system in a tertiary care hospital of Pakistan

Objectives: To determine the cause of stillbirth after application of relevant condition at death (ReCoDe) classification system. Methods: This was a retrospective cross sectional study of 207 women diagnosed with stillbirth after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi between 1st January 2015 and 31st December 2019. The primary objective was to find the cause of stillbirth according to the new classification of relevant condition at death (ReCoDe). Results: There were a total of 32413 live births and 207 stillbirths during the study period thus stillbirth rate of 6 per 1000 live births. In this study, 80% of women were in the age group of 20-35 years, 16% had advanced maternal age while 3.8% of women accounted for less than 20 years. Among the maternal factors; 54.5% cases were booked and the remaining were were un-booked cases. Pre-eclampsia was the most common associated maternal condition (14.9%).Fetal cause accounted for 34.7% of stillbirths and the fetal growth restriction (FGR) was the most common; 23.6%. After application of ReCoDe classification, in 81% of stillbirth cases associated condition were found and only 18.8% of cases were categorized unexplained. Conclusion: Application of ReCoDe classification is easy to understand and applicable, especially in low resource settings with associated causes identified in vast majority of cases

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and unexpected world health crisis

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus and it has created unexpected world crisis which never happen after second world war. On 30 January 2020, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of COVID-19 to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and issued a set of Temporary Recommendations. There is a new public health crisis threatening the world with the emergence and spread of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) or the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus originated in bats and was transmitted to humans through yet unknown intermediary animals in Wuhan, Hubei province, China in December 2019. The objective of the paper is to identify the reason to spread COVID-19 and to identify the possible solution to prevent COVID-19. It is a qualitative research. The information has collected studying articles, books and newspapers. People can recover from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Catching the new coronavirus does not mean you will have it for life. Most of the people who catch COVID-19 can recover and eliminate the virus from their bodies

A Reflection on Child and Infant Mortality in Selected South Asian Countries

Objectives: This study aims to explore the infant and child mortality rates in relation to (i) a range of conventional covariates including household characteristics, literacy rates, cultural and social factors, treatment method, mother’s history like preceding birth interval between children & multiple births and provision of facilities like electricity, safe water and sanitation etc. (ii) some policy variables like health facilities related to cesarean section and women empowerment related to health which is a very nascent concept in public health literature. Methods: The study design is cross-sectional which exploits the latest Demographic Health Surveys from the selected South Asian countries including Pakistan (2012), Bangladesh (2011) India (2012) and Nepal (2011). The Cox’s proportional hazard model is used to establish the factors that affect the infant and child mortality. Conclusion: The results of the study support the argument of health interventions in the region that should be designed to reach the most undeserved: women and children. More specifically, we recommend particular focus on better cesarean section method of delivery and women empowerment in health related issues

Diabetes related knowledge among residents and nurses: a multicenter study in Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: Assessment of knowledge among resident trainees and nurses is very important since majority of patients admitted in hospital have underlying diabetes which could lead to adverse clinical outcomes if not managed efficiently. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the knowledge related to the management of diabetes among registered nurses (RN) and trainee residents of internal medicine (IMR), family medicine (FMR) and surgery (SR) at tertiary care hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: A validated questionnaire consisting of 21 open ended questions related to diabetes awareness was acquired through a study done at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia with the permission of primary author. Results: 169 IMR, 27 FMR, 86 SR and 99 RN completed a questionnaire that assessed the knowledge related to different aspects of management of diabetes. The results were further stratified by participant\u27s specialty and level of training. The percentage of knowledge based questions answered correctly was found to be low. The overall mean correct percentage among all the participants was 50% +/- 21. There was no statistical difference in terms of knowledge between IMR & FMR residents (64% +/- 14 vs. 60% +/- 16, p = 0.47) respectively. The total scores of SR and RN were quite low (40% +/- 16 & 31% +/- 15 respectively).SR and RN were found to have profound deficit in both inpatient and outpatient knowledge of diabetes. We did not observe any improvement in level of knowledge of FMR & SR with increase in duration of their training (p = 0.47 & 0.80 respectively). In contrast, improvement in the level of knowledge of IMR was observed from first to second year of their training (p = 0.03) with no further improvement thereafter. RN\u27s didn\u27t respond correctly on most of the items related to in-patient management of diabetes (Mean score 40% +/- 20). Conclusion: As there are no prior studies in our setting evaluating knowledge related to diabetes management among residents and nurses, this study is of paramount importance. Based on these results, considerable knowledge gaps were found among trainee residents and nurses pointing towards need of providing additional education to improve the delivery of diabetes care

Sustainability of E-Learning in the Undergraduate EFL Classrooms

  The present study investigated the probable sustainability and effectiveness of e-learning in English language teaching (ELT) to learners in an English as a foreign language (EFL) classroom. Since the beginning of technology, it has always influenced our lives, thinking, and learning areas. One significant model in today's world in education is E-Learning. Today, one aspect of technology that has a considerable impact on our livelihood is English language learning in the EFL context. Data were collected using a Google form questionnaire with 20 close-ended questions with a 5-point Likert scale and analyzed in percentage. Ninety-two undergraduate EFL learners randomly participated in the survey. The quantitative method has been used to analyze the data. The results showed that integrating e-learning is a blessing to language learners though students face some challenges entirely using it. Learners have found educational technology effective in developing their fours language skills, including vocabulary problem-solving skills, performance improvement, etc. The study finally recommended increasing e-learning practices alongside the traditional approach in the EFL context of Bangladesh along with secured and controlled techniques

Poverty: A Major Cause of Criminality in Women in Pakistan

Millions of people and communities worldwide experience poverty. This research examines the complex relationship between poverty and crime, showing how economic hardship can lead to criminality in Punjab Pakistan. The research synthesizes material to explain how poverty causes crime.The relationship between poverty and crime has long fascinated experts, policymakers, and the public. Numerous studies have linked poverty to higher crime rates, especially in underprivileged neighborhoods. Due to limited access to education, healthcare, and work, poverty can foster crime. This research discusses strain, social disorganization, and relative deprivation ideas that explain poverty-crime. These beliefs argue that economically disadvantaged people are more inclined to turn to crime to meet their wants and advance socially. The abstract also examines how poverty may affect crime. It describes how economic deprivation can affect educational attainment, healthcare access, and social mobility, raising the likelihood of crime.  Data was collected from 5 major prisons in Punjab Pakistan by the researcher herself through the Questionnaire. Major findings included, a lack of genuine prospects and the promise of quick money can lead some to unlawful activities, perpetuating poverty and crime. Poverty-crime policy consequences are also discussed in the research. Poverty reduction through social welfare, education, and job creation is stressed to lower crime rates. Evidence-based socioeconomic initiatives can interrupt the poverty-crime cycle in underprivileged communities. Poverty and crime have a complicated relationship. Poverty is a major factor in crime, as this research shows from the literature. It proposes a holistic approach that addresses poverty's core causes to reduce crime and promote community well-being. Key Words:  Women, Poverty, Unemployment, Criminality, Prisons, Punjab, Pakistan