Knowledge Discovery and Management within Service Centers

These days, most enterprise service centers deploy Knowledge Discovery and Management (KDM) systems to address the challenge of timely delivery of a resourceful service request resolution while efficiently utilizing the huge amount of data. These KDM systems facilitate prompt response to the critical service requests and if possible then try to prevent the service requests getting triggered in the first place. Nevertheless, in most cases, information required for a request resolution is dispersed and suppressed under the mountain of irrelevant information over the Internet in unstructured and heterogeneous formats. These heterogeneous data sources and formats complicate the access to reusable knowledge and increase the response time required to reach a resolution. Moreover, the state-of-the art methods neither support effective integration of domain knowledge with the KDM systems nor promote the assimilation of reusable knowledge or Intellectual Capital (IC). With the goal of providing an improved service request resolution within the shortest possible time, this research proposes an IC Management System. The proposed tool efficiently utilizes domain knowledge in the form of semantic web technology to extract the most valuable information from those raw unstructured data and uses that knowledge to formulate service resolution model as a combination of efficient data search, classification, clustering, and recommendation methods. Our proposed solution also handles the technology categorization of a service request which is very crucial in the request resolution process. The system has been extensively evaluated with several experiments and has been used in a real enterprise customer service center

Explicit rate control for MANET

Streaming applications over Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANET) require a smooth transmission rate. The Internet is unable to provide this service during traffic congestion in the network. Designing congestion control for these applications is challenging, because the standard TCP congestion control mechanism is not able to handle the special properties of a shared wireless multi hop channel well. In particular, the frequent changes to the network topology and the shared nature of the wireless channel pose major challenges. In this paper, we propose a novel approach, which allows a quick increase of throughput by using explicit feedback from routers

Determinants of organizational citizenship behavior: A case study of higher education institutes in Pakistan

This study empirically examines the relationship between altruism, conscientiousness, and civic virtue, three of the antecedents of organizational citizenship behavior, in higher education institutes in the Khyber Pakhtonkhuwa Province (KPK) of Pakistan. The study is based on primary data collected from ninety-five employees of various institutes in Pakistan. The data is analyzed using the techniques of rank correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. All the findings are tested at 0.01 and 0.05 levels of significance. The result concludes that altruism, conscientiousness, and civic virtue have strong positive impacts on the organizational citizenship behavior in the context of higher education institutes in Pakistan

Genome-wide characterization of the NLR gene family in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and their relatedness to disease resistance

Nucleotide-binding leucine-rich-repeat receptors (NLR), the largest group of genes associated with plant disease resistance (R), have attracted attention due to their crucial role in protecting plants from pathogens. Genome-wide studies of NLRs have revealed conserved domains in the annotated tomato genome. The 321 NLR genes identified in the tomato genome have been randomly mapped to 12 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis and classification of NLRs have revealed that 211 genes share full-length domains categorized into three major clades (CNL, TNL, and RNL); the remaining 110 NLRs share partial domains and are classified in CN, TN, and N according to their motifs and gene structures. The cis-regulatory elements of NLRs exhibit the maximum number of these elements and are involved in response to biotic and abiotic stresses, pathogen recognition, and resistance. Analysis of the phylogenetic relationship between tomato NLRs and orthologs in other species has shown conservation among Solanaceae members and variation with A. thaliana. Synteny and Ka/Ks analyses of Solanum lycopersicum and Solanum tuberosum orthologs have underscored the importance of NLR conservation and diversification from ancestral species millions of years ago. RNA-seq data and qPCR analysis of early and late blight diseases in tomatoes revealed consistent NLR expression patterns, including upregulation in infected compared to control plants (with some exceptions), suggesting the role of NLRs as key regulators in early blight resistance. Moreover, the expression levels of NLRs associated with late blight resistance (Solyc04g007060 [NRC4] and Solyc10g008240 [RIB12]) suggested that they regulate S. lycopersicum resistance to P. infestans. These findings provide important fundamental knowledge for understanding NLR evolution and diversity and will empower the broader characterization of disease resistance genes for pyramiding through speed cloning to develop disease-tolerant varieties

Evaluation of Gentamicin's Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern Against Uropathogens in a Tertiary Health Care Center in Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Treatment of UTI patients with aminoglycosides is a familiar incidence. Resistance of antibiotics is also a familiar incidence but it is alarming when it goes to a high ratio. The vital public health problem in developing country like Bangladesh is resistance of antibiotics to different types of bacteria causing UTI and the rates of these bacterial resistances are changing for various antibiotic therapy. Our aim was to assess the susceptible pattern of Gentamicin a drug of Aminoglycosides group against uropathogens. A total of 12943 urine samples were collected in 2016 (Jan-Dec) and out of which 1236 (9.55%) were bacteriologically positive out of these isolated  95.1% were gram negative and 4.9% gram positive organism. Male were found more prone to get UTI under 10 years and between 51-90 years of age and female were more affected in 10 to 50 years and over 90 years of age group. E. coli was the most prevalent (83.9%) isolate followed by Klebsiella spp. (6.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (2.6%), Pseudomonas spp. (2.2%), Enterococcus spp. (2.0%) and Proteus spp. (1.1%). The most predominant organism Acinetobacter spp. (100%) were found sensitive to Gentamicin in both male and female patients and Enterococcus spp. in male (62.5%) and female (58.8%) were found resistant.  Around 37.4% male and 32.5% female were found resistant to E.coli. Keywords: Gentamicin, Aminoglycosides, UTI, Resistance, Uropathogen. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/67-08 Publication date:October 31st 201

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Studie av type I toxin-antitoxin systemer fra E.coli

Bacteria are evolving to be multidrug resistant, this is probably a combination effect of selection for previously existing resistance genes and more modern evolution through mutagenesis. Understanding the processes contributing to resistance development is important in an attempt to produce novel antibiotics. Escherichia coli is a well-studied organism but function of many small proteins are still unknown. Some of the small proteins are SOS regulated and are important in cellular processes such as regulation, signaling and antibacterial action. Toxin-antitoxin (TA) loci in bacteria consist of two genes, of which one of the genes encodes a small protein which is often highly toxic upon moderate overexpression. The toxin DinQ has shown to be highly lethal upon modest overexpression and DinQ has been suggested to be a candidate for anti-cell-envelope antibiotic against E.coli infections and possibly infections by other gram-negative bacteria. Overproduction of the toxin TisB has shown to form persister cells, which are dormant cells that are highly tolerant to antibiotics, and it is concerning that DNA-damaging antibiotics induce multidrug tolerant cells. Based on the recently characterized TA-system, dinQ-agrB, the function of the TA-systems tisB-istR, shoB-ohsC and ldrD-rdlD was investigated. The mutants tisB, istR, shoB, ohsC, ldrD, rdlD, dinQ and agrB were stressed in several ways and biophysical responses of the bacteria was observed by their ability to replicate and form colonies. Various genetic backgrounds were combined to define the epistasis groups of these systems. The results obtained show that ohsC mutant had dramatically reduced survivors by almost 9000-fold compared to wild type (MG1655) under 1 hour alkaline challenge. Under chronic oxidative stress, shoB and ohsC mutants showed opposite result when stressed with hydrogen peroxide and superoxide, indicating a specific role of ShoB under oxidative stress. Possibility of ShoB increasing oxidative stress through Fe2+ uptake proteins was investigated. Removing both shoB and iscA is indicating there is a strong genetic interaction between shoB and IscA as replication is strongly inhibited.Bakterier utvikler seg til å bli motstandsdyktige mot flere antibiotika. Dette er muligens på grunn av seleksjon av eksisterende resistensgener og mer moderne evolusjon gjennom mutagenesis. Å forstå prosessen som bidrar til motstandsdyktighet er viktig for å utvikle alternativer til nye antibiotika. Escherichia coli er en organisme som er ganske godt studert men fortsatt er funksjonen til mange små proteiner ukjent. Noen av de små proteinene er SOS regulerte og viktige i celle-funksjoner, slik som regulering, signalisering og bekjempelse av andre bakterier. Toxin-antitoxin loci i bakterier består av to gener, hvorav det ene genet koder for et lite protein som er potensielt giftig. DinQ er et toxin som veldig giftig ved moderat overproduksjon og DinQ har blitt foreslått til å være en kandidat for anti-celle-envelope antibiotika mot E.coli infeksjoner og muligens mot andre gram-negative bakterier. Overproduksjon av TisB danner persister celler som er uvirksomme celler, som har sterk toleranse mot antibiotika. Det er bekymrende at DNAskadende antibiotika induserer celler som er tolerante mot flere ulike antibiotika. Basert på TA-systemet dinQ-agrB, som ble karakterisert nylig, ble funksjonen til TA-systemene tisB-istR, shoB-ohsC and ldrD-rdlD undersøkt. Mutantene tisB, istR, shoB, ohsC, ldrD, rdlD, dinQ og agrB ble stresset på flere ulike måter og den biofysiske responsen til bakteriene ble observert ved deres evne til å replikere og danne kolonier. Ulike genetiske bakgrunner ble kombinert for å finne gener som kan påvirke disse systemene. Resultatene i disse studiene viser at ohsC mutanten er 9000 ganger mer sensitiv mot basisk stress i forhold til villtype (MG1655). Under kronisk oksidativ stress viste shoB og ohsC mutantene motsatt resultater når de ble stresset med hydrogen peroksid og superoksid, som gir indikasjon på at ShoB har en spesifikk rolle under oksidativ stress. Mulighetene for at ShoB øker oksidativ skade via Fe2+-opptaksproteiner ble undersøkt. Fjerning av både shoB og iscA indikerer at det er en sterk genetisk interaksjon mellom shoB og iscA, siden det inhiberer mutantene i å replikere.M-K

Multimedia stream rate control over MANET based on router feedback

Streaming applications over Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANET) require a smooth transmission rate. The Internet is unable to provide this service during traffic congestion in the network. Designing congestion control for these applications is challenging, because the standard TCP congestion control mechanism is not able to handle the special properties of a shared wireless multi hop channel well. In particular, the frequent changes to the network topology and the shared nature of the wireless channel pose major challenges. In this paper, we propose a novel approach, which allows a quick increase of throughput by using explicit feedback from routers

The sources and availability of information for tourists: A study on tourism sector of Bangladesh

Tourism has considered as the world’s largest and rapid growing industry of modern business world. It has a vital influence on economic development of a country. Bangladesh is a new tourist destination on the map of the world. Bangladesh has enormous potential to develop tourism because of its attractive natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Tourism can add value in the Bangladeshi economy if the industry can be handled properly. However, this industry fails to reach its destination due to lack of awareness, lack of facilities and adequate marketing practices. This study aims to identify the sources and availability of information for tourists and the possible reasons why they visit Bangladesh which can help to construct and implement proper marketing plan and strategy for this industry. The study shows that tourists uses travel agent and various newspaper and magazines to know about Bangladesh before visit. And, most of the tourists agree that they get valuable information about Bangladeshi tourism sector more easily

Fatāwā related to Khul‘ in Pakistan & Egypt : An Analysis in the light of sharī‘ah

Among different ways of separation through husband and wife khul‘ is the one of the way which is the right of wife. Wife has given right of khul‘ when she feel dissatisfied living with her husband. Talāq is the right of husband and the khul‘ is the right of wife both of which has a difference in ruling but the separation takes place between them by both of the ways. The separation (talāq) happens the minute a man expresses some particular words. Anyways the Khul‘ doesn't happen by minor explanation of the female or her interest for Khul‘. Or maybe there is a technique for its occurring. Pakistani culture does not recommend women to ask for her right of khul‘ because the culture does not support it. Mostly, woman need to approach court for khul‘. In Sharī‘ah it is the woman right but she needs to take the consent of husband. Traditional law is also in view that for khul‘ the consent of husband is necessary. In modern times the courts do not seek the presence and consent of husband. The woman is suffering due to non-presence of husband in the court. According to Hanafi school khul is, where wife requests her husband to release her on which husband gives his consent, but on receiving back from her, the Mehr. The present research is a comparative analysis in light of Fatawa regarding Khul‘  in Pakistan and Egypt and its effect on women family life