PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a pilot study conducted in Pakistan, about the barriers perceived by users and non‐users of Islamic banking when selecting Islamic banks.Design/methodology/approachThis study was conducted to include two types of banking customers, users (customers of Islamic banks only and, Islamic and conventional banks both) and non‐users (customers of conventional banks only). The qualitative research included in‐depth interviews with managers of Islamic banks and two focus groups with users and non‐users, respectively. The survey questionnaire that was subsequently designed received 109 responses. The analysis includes hypothesis testing, factor analysis, and cluster analysis.FindingsA narrow branch network, inconvenient branch locations and perception that “Islamic banks do not completely follow Islamic principles” acted as barriers for non‐users when selecting Islamic banks. Further, “a religious ruling against Islamic banks” was not considered an important barrier when selecting Islamic banks.Originality/valueThis research outlines an alternative methodology of looking at bank selection criteria, by measuring the other side of the coin, i.e. the barriers perceived by users and non‐users of Islamic banking when selecting Islamic banks. Compared to the prevailing literature on the subject, such an approach is enlightening and can have enormous potential as it directly measures the perceived barriers towards Islamic banking. Furthermore, this pilot study is also an important contribution to the limited literature on consumer attitudes towards Islamic banking in Pakistan, where the operations of Islamic banks are still in their formative stage.
The aim of this study is the automation of the monitoring and controlling of ammonia concentration in the air of poultry houses by using Smart Relay (SR). Ammonia (NH3) concentration in poultry houses is a production issue of concern, where it is one of the harmful gases that significantly affect the health of birds and growers (through exposing to the high concentration levels of ammonia). The system achieve 24 hours remote monitoring without human intervention through using the communication connection feature of smart relay with the local operator communication networks via its communication interfaces that used along with it in this system. This remote monitoring is achieved through sending and receiving SMS messages from this system to the mobile phone of person in charge of poultry farms and vice versa.
Flexographic printing is a highly sought-after technique within the realm of packaging and labeling due to its versatility, cost-effectiveness, high speed, high-quality images, and environmentally friendly nature. A major challenge in flexographic printing is the need to optimize energy usage, which requires diligent attention to resolve. This research combines lean principles and machine learning to improve energy efficiency in selected flexographic printing machines; i.e., Miraflex and F&K. By implementing the 5Why root cause analysis and Kaizen, the study found that the idle time was reduced by 30% for the Miraflex machine and the F&K machine, resulting in energy savings of 34.198% and 38.635% per meter, respectively. Additionally, a multi-linear regression model was developed using machine learning and a range of input parameters, such as machine speed, production meter, substrate density, machine idle time, machine working time, and total machine run time, to predict energy consumption and optimize job scheduling. The results of the research exhibit that the model was efficient and accurate, leading to a reduction in energy consumption and costs while maintaining or even improving the quality of the printed output. This approach can also add to reducing the carbon footprint of the manufacturing process and help companies meet sustainability goals.
Background and aimsPeripheral neuropathy is a frequent complication of long-standing diabetes mellitus that adversely affects the quality of life. Pregabalin (anticonvulsant) and duloxetine (antidepressant) are often prescribed for diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain. This study aimed to determine and compare the efficacy and safety of pregabalin and duloxetine in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain.
Materials and methodsThis prospective observational study was conducted at District Headquarter (DHQ) Hospital, Daggar, Buner district, Pakistan, from February 15 to July 15, 2022, after approval from the Institutional Research and Ethical Review Board. Confirmation of diabetic peripheral neuropathy was based on the history of diabetes mellitus and vibration perception threshold (VPT) using a biothesiometer. The cut-off was set at 15 volts. VPT of more than 15 volts was considered confirmatory for peripheral neuropathy. Patients were divided equally into two groups. Baseline visual analog scale (VAS) score was recorded for all patients. Tablet pregabalin 300 mg daily was administered for four weeks to one group, while tablet duloxetine in 60 mg strength daily was administered to the other group. VAS score after four-week treatment was recorded and compared. Adverse events experienced by the patient were also noted.
ResultsA total of 86 patients were enrolled. The patient ages ranged from 30 to 80 years. Baseline characteristics, including mean age, mean BMI, and mean disease duration of duloxetine versus pregabalin group, were 50.30 ± 8.55 versus 48.20 ± 8.99 years, 23.47 ± 1.23 versus 23.10 ± 1.59 kg/m2 and 21.64 ±7.41 versus 20.04±6.37 months respectively. Duloxetine effectively controlled peripheral neuropathic pain in 81.4% of patients compared to pregabalin in 74.4% of patients. Severe drug-related adverse reactions were observed in 4.6% of patients with duloxetine compared to 0% with pregabalin.
ConclusionDuloxetine and pregabalin effectively reduce diabetes-related peripheral neuropathic pain. However, duloxetine has slightly better outcomes than pregabalin. The safety profile of pregabalin is better than duloxetine.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.