COVID-19 and beyond: leveraging artificial intelligence for enhanced outbreak control

COVID-19 has brought significant changes to our political, social, and technological landscape. This paper explores the emergence and global spread of the disease and focuses on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in containing its transmission. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no scientific presentation of the early pictorial representation of the disease's spread. Additionally, we outline various domains where AI has made a significant impact during the pandemic. Our methodology involves searching relevant articles on COVID-19 and AI in leading databases such as PubMed and Scopus to identify the ways AI has addressed pandemic-related challenges and its potential for further assistance. While research suggests that AI has not fully realized its potential against COVID-19, likely due to data quality and diversity limitations, we review and identify key areas where AI has been crucial in preparing the fight against any sudden outbreak of the pandemic. We also propose ways to maximize the utilization of AI's capabilities in this regard.

Rising Cyber Crime in Rural India: A Review

This paper analyses the increasing cyber-crime in India, especially in the rural areas, andcyber-attacks on service-providing government websites. Cyber-attacks are viewed within the context of important events to reveal the effectiveness of cyber-attack campaigns. The analysis highlights the range of cyber issues experienced during the lockdown in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper shows how work-from-home campaigns digitalize the population, and how rural people become the victim of cyber-attacks. The analysis also emphasizes possible solutions to strengthen cyber security.

Road traffic injuries in Karachi: the disproportionate role of buses and trucks

Road traffic accidents result in substantial injury and death in Karachi. We reviewed the patient logs of the two largest government hospitals in Karachi between December 1993 and February 1994 to identify those persons most likely to be injured in a road traffic accident and to identify the vehicle types which were most likely to be involved. 86% of 727 road injury victims were male. Their mean age was 31 years. One hundred of thirty-one (18%) died. Pedestrians and motorcyclists were the most common victims accounting for 46% all injuries and 51% of deaths. Although buses and trucks were less than 4% of the registered vehicles in Karachi they were the striking vehicle among 49% of all injuries and 65% of the deaths. Road traffic accidents disproportionately affect wage earners. Specific interventions to improve the road safety of trucks and buses are needed.