Malaysian Journal of Medical and Biological Research
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Isoprenoids and Fatty Acids Derivatives from the Chloroform Fraction of the Antimycobacterial Methanol Extract Ximeniaamericana Lam. (Olacaceae) Stem Bark
Full text linkThis study investigated the triterpenoids and fatty acid derivatives, and the in vitro growth inhibitory effect against clinical strains of Mycobacteria tuberculosis of the stem bark of Ximenia Americanaa plant widely used in ethno-medicine for the treatment of bacterial and skin infections, poison, post-partum hemorrhage, anaemia, and dysentery. The macerated methanol extract (XAM) of the stem bark was evaluated for anti-tuberculosis activity using the Lowensten Jensen method against de-contaminated clinical strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The XAM was fractionated by open column chromatography on a normal phase silica gel column with a 25 % stepwise gradient of chloroform-methanol as mobile phase. The constituents of the non-polar column fractions eluted with 100% chloroform were characterized using Gas Chromatography-Mass spectroscopic (GC-MS) techniques and by comparison with reference NIST library compound. The XAM (5 mg/mL) inhibited the growth of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis. GC-MS analysis of the non-polar column fractions afforded Two lupane-type triterpenoids: Lup-20-(29)-en-3-one (15) and lupeol (16), three phytosteroids: campesterol (11), stigmasterol (12) and gamma-sitosterol (14), one fridelane-type triterpenoid: Friedelan-3-one (8), one oleanane-type triterpenoid: 12-oleanen-3-one (13), and the fatty acids: Palmitic acid methyl ester (1), Palmitic acid (2), 11-octadecenoic acid methyl ester (3), Octadecanoic acid methyl ester (4), Cis-13-Octadecenoic acid (5), 10,13-octadecadiynoic acid methyl ester (6), Docosanoic acid (7), Tetracosanoic acid (9), and Hexacosanoic acid methyl ester (10). The presence of these bioactive triterpenoids and fatty acids could offer an explanation for the ethno-medicinal uses of this plant. Further work is on-going to isolate in pure form, and characterized the bioactive constituents in the XAM with the view of discovery lead compounds for the treatment of tuberculosis and associated opportunistic bacterial infections.
 
Android & iOS Health Apps for Track Physical Activity and Healthcare
Full text linkIn recent years, there has been a surge in the number of applications for mental health (also known as MHapps) that have been developed and are now available to users of smartphones. MHapps and other technology-based solutions have to play an essential part in the future of mental health care; nevertheless, there is no one guide for developing evidence-based MHapps. MHapps have the potential to play a vital part in the future of mental health care. Many of the MHapps that are now available either need to contain features that would significantly enhance their functionality or have poorly optimize could be better. In addition, the creators of MHapps rarely undertake or publish experimental validation of their apps based on trial and error. A prior systematic review found that many of the hundreds of MHapps on the market had any evidence at all that was based on clinical trials. Using data collected from the Android app market as a source of observation, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of information cues on users\u27 uptake of anxiety-related apps
Analysis of the Impact of Graphical Warning Label on Smokers
Full text linkObjective: The Fundamental objective this paper to explore the impacts of warning label on the smokers. Whether smokers are discouraging from this warning label or not? This research was started in September 2016 and done in January 2017. (Five months). Methodology: Both primary & secondary data was used for data collection. Secondary data was taken from the research articles, periodicals, hospital’s annual reports and health magazines. For primary data collection, a testified five point Likert scale questionnaire was used. We’ve distributed 1800 questionnaires in nine (9) cities, 200 in each city. By using stratified random sampling technique. Finally received (n=1726) that were properly filled by all aspects. Our population was Punjab province and sample was nine cities including Federal Capital of Islamic Republic of Pakistan: Islamabad, Lahore, Okara, Sahiwal, Faisalabad, Jhang, Layyah, Bahawalpur & Multan. After that data was analyzed on Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 21.0). Cronbach’s alpha (ἀ) of our research study was 0.862. It shows the well-organized reliability of our data. Results: Correlation ‘flank-by’ D.V (Intention to quit), IV (warning label) and M.V (demographic factors) shows that, “yes there is an association among them”. Regression Analysis retrospect that they have a week but positive relationship. Durbin Watson’s explorations were also showing same frequencies. Findings: We’ve found that well educated & privileged respondents have less smoking habit than un-educated & underprivileged persons. Male & female students are also indulged in the curse of smoking, without caring of their pocket money. Teen aged & educated smokers, notices the warning label intensely as compared to others, but ignored. So Govt. & health agencies should acquaint the novel way that discourage the smokers in real sense.
 
The Linkage between Institutional Changes and Food Security in Mtwara Region, Tanzania
Full text linkThis study focuses on the linkage between institutional changes and food security in Mtwara region. Institutional changes in terms of increase numbers of financial, commercial, hospitalizes, education, infrastructures and improved moral and altitudes of farmers have a direct relation with food availability and accessibility. Both formal and informal institutions have potentials to help improvement of food availability and accessibility. However, despite institutions dealing with food security having changed in Mtwara, food security is low. The fundamental question is which one among these institutions, has high impact on food security.This study sought to determine the linkage between institutional changes and food security in Mtwara region. The specific objectives of the study were to identify institutions existing and their functions at household level, analyze various sources of food grains and states of food security at the household level in Mtwara region, and assess the linkages between institutional changes and food security. Structured questionnaire, Focus Group Discussion and Oral interview had been useful for collecting primary information in which the best recorded interviewees were analyzed supplemented by documentaries (text and photography). Findings revealed that financial institutions and education have high impact on food security in the study area. Generally, this study concluded that banks, SACCOS, traditions (moral, attitudes, beliefs), and roadshave slightly difference effect on food security. Since 2010these institutions had been increased and improved and have a direct relation with food security.It is recommended that the, government and other stakeholders should create true transformation in rural people to provide them decent jobs, good living conditions, and different opportunities in order to maintain youth to stay in rural area for maximizing the food production. Further studies should be done on the factors influencing people to stay in rural areas in which agricultural activities are being done.
 
Efficacy of Augmented Reality in Medical Education
Full text linkAugmented reality has had a great development in various fields such as education, architecture, marketing, and tourism. However, there is another field in which it can be really useful, so much so that it can save lives: medicine. In this article, there is a detailed explanation of how augmented reality proved itself effective in medical education. The hospitals and health centers increasingly have more modern equipment that allows accurate diagnoses and effective treatments put up. This is the case of advances such as X-rays, magnetic resonances, ultrasound treatments, or computed tomography, among many others. The uses of augmented reality in medicine are very varied, although it is still a technology in an early stage of development. It is very likely that, in a short time, the applications of AR in the health sector will multiply. Moreover, it might be used in severe rather than typical or random criteria
The Association between Age at Marriage and Child Mortality in Bangladesh
Full text linkThe main objective of this paper is to show the association between age at marriage and the early stage neonatal mortality in Bangladesh. The secondary data has been used for this paper and the data source is Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. The target group of respondents in this study were the ever married women and who had ever given birth. The total sample size was 44207. In this paper both univariate and bivariate analysis have been used and some graphical representation has also been applied. At bivariate level, to find out the association between dependent variable and independent variables chi square test has been applied. Here dependent variable is considered as early stage neo-natal mortality (child who ever breathed or cried or showed other signs of life-even if he/she lived only a few minutes or hours) which is a binary variable indicating 1 if early stage neo-natal mortality is occurred and 0 if early stage neonatal mortality is not occurred among the respondents. Results show that among the respondents around 16.52 percent experienced very early stage neonatal mortality of their children and this percentage of early stage neonatal mortality for the women who got married at age 18 and above is 22.58 and this figure is 25.96 percent for the women who got married before reaching age 18 and this difference is statistically significant at 5 percent level of significance. So from this study it has been found that age at marriage has a significant role on early stage neonatal mortality in Bangladesh.
 
Effect of Different Sowing Dates for the Management of Chilli Pests
Full text linkThe field experiment was conducted at Spices Research Centre, Shibganj, Bogra, Bangladesh during Rabi season of 2015-16 to assess the effect of varying sowing dates against insect pest of chilli. The treatments were T1= 30 August (1st sowing); T2= 15 September (2nd sowing); T3= 30 September (3rd sowing); T4= 15 October (4th sowing), T5= 30 October (5th sowing) and T6= 15 November (6th sowing). Sowing was done at 15 days interval from August to November in the experimental field. The results showed that the maximum mean aphid (9.27/leaf), thrips (10.77/leaf), mite(11.51/leaf) and fruit borer population like H. armigera and S.litura larvae (8.25 and 6.74/plant, respectively) were found in 15 November sowing and minimum number of those insect pest were present in 30 August sowing. Red ripe chilli yields were also found to differ in descending order as follows: 30 August (13.05 t/ha)> 15 September (12.70 t/ha)> 30 September (10.30 t/ha)> 15 October (8.41 t/ha)> 30 October (5.20 t/ha)> 15 November (3.10 t/ha). It was inferred that early sowing (30 August or 15 September) resulted in lower incidence of aphids, thrips, mite and fruit borer. Such low level of insect pest caused less crop injury which resulted in enhancing the red ripe yield of chilli. So, it is suggested that for early sowing of winter chilli, the appropriate planting time may be 30 August to 15 September.
 
Evaluation of Hospital Information Systems (HIS) in terms of their Suitability for Tasks
Full text linkIn the context of hospital information systems (HIS), "suitability for the task" refers to several factors, including not imposing additional tasks on users, executing everyday activities in their entirety, and displaying all relevant information on the screen. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a multi-stage sampling strategy was utilized to select hospitals to participate in the study. In other words, the first thing done was to locate hospitals with companies that supplied them with health information systems. Then, one hospital was selected among those that were provided funding by each of the companies. The ISO Metric Standard Questionnaire 9241 was utilized for this investigation. The evaluation of HIS aptitude for the job will be based on his responses to these 15 questions in the questionnaire. The data were examined by employing descriptive tests and the software SPSS. According to the investigation results, the average number of HIS characteristics suitable for the undertaking was 3.04 out of 5. This feature has an average rating of 2.96 out of 5 stars from paraclinical users. The scores of 3.03 and 3.13 given by secretaries and nurses, respectively, are presented here. Items that received bad ratings, such as the imposition of tasks that were not within the user\u27s obligations, highlight the fact that the majority of users consider that such systems are not following their responsibilities, despite all of the claims that have been made regarding the benefits of computer information systems in the field of medicine. In other words, these kinds of systems have not only failed to simplify the regular duties of their users, but they have also resulted in the users having to execute those actions multiple times. The users initially write the data down on paper before entering it into the digital information systems. As a result, those responsible for developing computerized information systems used in healthcare should emphasize the appropriateness of these systems for the job
Implementation of Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture: A Review for CMS Optimization
Full text linkAgriculture has a critical role to play in the financial domain. Likewise, automation of multiple processes in agriculture has been a great concern as well as an alarming subject across the world. The population all over the world is growing at a high rate and with this increment, demand for agriculture and its jobs is also growing exponentially. The usual techniques that were used by the farmers are not efficient enough to meet these requirements. Along these lines, new digital techniques are presented. These new strategies satisfy the proper management of agricultural products as well as services so that farmers can make the most of technology to increase their profit rates. AI in the agricultural landscape has initiated a revolutionary change. It has guarded the harvest yield from different declining factors such as environmental changes, over population, dynamic business demands, and food safety issues. By using artificial intelligence we can foster smart farming practices to limit the loss of farmers and give them high returns. Using artificial intelligence platforms, one can collect an enormous amount of information from government and public sites or real-time monitoring and collection of different information is likewise possible by utilizing IoT (Internet of Things) and afterward can be explored with precision to empower the farmers for resolving every one of the issues faced by farmers in the agriculture area. This research is conducted in order to help local farmers everywhere in the world to manage their agriculture practices all the more effectively. The strategy discussed in this paper is leveraging the model of waterfall methodology for planning and creating a system smart enough by performing a sequential cycle that starts with data collection, requirement analysis, plan, coding, and testing and finally implements that system as a whole. This system can also be used to foster ideas to manage normal issues in agriculture information systems, to improve the policy programs, the augmentation, and analysis practices, and to manage data on agriculture. Finally, conclusion about agricultural information systems are discussed and suggestions for additional development of agriculture data systems is presented.
 
Morphological Identification, Species Composition and Distribution of Mosquitoes in Kosti region, White Nile State, Central Sudan
Full text linkMosquitoes are a large diverse group of insects, with members being most important as vectors of diseases. The correct identification of mosquitoes is crucial to the control of the mosquito-borne diseases. This study was designed to provide baseline data on the species composition and distribution of members of the Anophelines and Culicines genera in ten selected localities in Kosti region, White Nile State, Central Sudan. Global Positioning System (GPS) was used to select collection sites. Adult mosquitoes were collected by pyrethrum spray catch (PSC) from randomly selected houses in Allia, Alnsr, Alskahdeed, Almrabie, Alshati, Althwrat, Alraba, Block 26, Block 32 and Khadugli in Kosti region during September 2014-August 2015. The Anophelines and Culicines mosquitoes were identified using standard morphological keys. Two Anopheles species and three Culex species were morphologically identified. These were An. gambiae s.s.; An. pharoensis; Cx. quinquefasciatus; Cx. univittatus and Cx. pipiens. This is the first report of An. pharoensis in the study area. The Highest mosquito abundance was observed in the September followed by October, while the lowest mosquito abundance was in July. An. gambiae s.s and Cx. quinquefasciatus were the predominant species which has importance as they indicate the presence of Malaria and arboviral infections in the study areas; respectively. These findings are of importance in the planning and implementation of vector control strategy in the Kosti region, White Nile state.