National economic and environmental development study: the case of Pakistan

Pakistan is a developing country bracing for significant economic growth and development in the future. In this regards, the country is poised to shift towards an increased reliance upon its indigenous coal reserves to fuel its development in the 2010-2050 time frame. Although this will significantly raise its projected greenhouse gas emissions, the present study has identified numerous measures which can be taken to shift this future development pathway on to a lower carbon and more climate friendly trajectory. The country, however, requires this shift to be supported through the access and transfer of appropriate technologies and finance. The ensuing “additional” financial needs for mitigation for a cleaner development future range from between U$8 billion and U$ 17 billion. These have been identified in this report along with a potential of 18% and 40% reduction of emissions between below “Business As Usual” scenario which is possible with a shift towards cleaner technologies. These clean development investments, however, need to be made in the near future as otherwise the energy future of Pakistan will get locked into the lower cost - higher carbon options. This mitigation costing estimate will, however, need to be refined and focused further as Pakistan identifies not only the specific technologies that it needs for this low carbon shift (through carrying out the “Technology Needs Assessment”) but also the programmatic, sectoral as well as project specific NAMAs (Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions) in the near future. Pakistan is also highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and faces immense associated challenges in coping with its unavoidable effects and economic implications. This study has highlighted the need to treat adaptation to climate change as a primary development issue for Pakistan. The potential impacts and sectors demanding prioritized adaptation have been identified in this study and the, associated, costs of adaptation have been estimated utilizing three diverse modeling methodologies – using GDP projections, per-capita figures and “flood” disaster modeling. The resulting adaptation cost figures range from between U$6 billion to U$ 14 billion/year that Pakistan would have to spend at an average in the 2010-2050 time frame to cope with the effects of climate change while it will be also left to, unavoidably, bear significant “residual damage” costs induced due to climate change. The top-down adaptation costing analysis applied in this report is aimed at providing a reasonable first approximation that can be refined over time as relevant and reliable local data becomes available especially from research focusing on sector specific adaptation costing. Most significantly the report reinforces the fact that the issue of climate change is, thus, not only an environmental issue challenging the country but an issue which will directly impinge upon the country’s economic, financial and development future as it deals with its extreme vulnerability to climate change. The significant climate costs identified in this study inextricably shows that climate change is an issue which Pakistan can ill afford to ignore in the future. Finally the report has identified the major financing options available for climate change related activities in Pakistan as well as the significant unilateral climate resources, U$ 4.5 billion in 2007-2009 alone, that the country is already committing to climate change without getting any global recognition for its efforts. In future, global financing will need to augment and leverage such national financial commitments. Also, as climate finance becomes increasingly available at the global level, it would be essential to enact appropriate assimilative national capacity in Pakistan to direct this finance towards nationally identified priorities as well as channelize it transparently and efficiently through consolidated financial mechanisms like a National Climate Change Fund which has been proposed through this study.climate change Pakistan

MRI features of spinal fluorosis: Results of an endemic community screening

Objectives: Fluorosis is endemic in many parts of the world. However community studies on MRI features of fluorosis are lacking. The aim of this study was to determine MRI features of spinal changes in a community with endemic fluorosis in the Thar Desert Pakistan.Methodology: Randomly selected adults from the Village Samorindh, district Tharparker, Sindh, Pakistan, with spinal fluorosis diagnosed on plain x-rays and raised serum fluoride levels were studied from June 2008 to January 2009. MRI was carried out on 0.5 T open magnet MRI system. Features of vertebral body, spinal ligaments, intervertebral disc, facet joints, iliac wings and other incidental findings were noted. Sclerosis was defined as low signal intensity on both T1 and T2 weighted images. RESULTS were described as mean and percentage values.Results: All the studied 27 subjects complained of back ache without neurological signs. The average age was 43.33 ± 10.45 years; 21 being male (77.8%). The most frequent findings included generalized vertebral sclerosis (24, 88.8%), ligamentum flavum hypertrophy (23, 85%), anterior (20, 74%) and lateral (17, 62.9%) disc herniation, thickened longitudinal ligaments, and narrowing of spinal foramina. Hemangioma was seen in 04(14.8%). The most commonly involved level was L1-2, L4-5 and lower dorsal spine.Conclusion: Vertebral sclerosis, a combination of premature degeneration with anterior disc herniation and an unusually high frequency of vertebral hemangioma formed the spectrum of MRI findings in subjects with spinal fluorosis having back ache but no neurological findings

National economic and environmental development study: the case of Pakistan

Pakistan is a developing country bracing for significant economic growth and development in the future. In this regards, the country is poised to shift towards an increased reliance upon its indigenous coal reserves to fuel its development in the 2010-2050 time frame. Although this will significantly raise its projected greenhouse gas emissions, the present study has identified numerous measures which can be taken to shift this future development pathway on to a lower carbon and more climate friendly trajectory. The country, however, requires this shift to be supported through the access and transfer of appropriate technologies and finance. The ensuing “additional” financial needs for mitigation for a cleaner development future range from between U$8 billion and U$ 17 billion. These have been identified in this report along with a potential of 18% and 40% reduction of emissions between below “Business As Usual” scenario which is possible with a shift towards cleaner technologies. These clean development investments, however, need to be made in the near future as otherwise the energy future of Pakistan will get locked into the lower cost - higher carbon options. This mitigation costing estimate will, however, need to be refined and focused further as Pakistan identifies not only the specific technologies that it needs for this low carbon shift (through carrying out the “Technology Needs Assessment”) but also the programmatic, sectoral as well as project specific NAMAs (Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions) in the near future. Pakistan is also highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and faces immense associated challenges in coping with its unavoidable effects and economic implications. This study has highlighted the need to treat adaptation to climate change as a primary development issue for Pakistan. The potential impacts and sectors demanding prioritized adaptation have been identified in this study and the, associated, costs of adaptation have been estimated utilizing three diverse modeling methodologies – using GDP projections, per-capita figures and “flood” disaster modeling. The resulting adaptation cost figures range from between U$6 billion to U$ 14 billion/year that Pakistan would have to spend at an average in the 2010-2050 time frame to cope with the effects of climate change while it will be also left to, unavoidably, bear significant “residual damage” costs induced due to climate change. The top-down adaptation costing analysis applied in this report is aimed at providing a reasonable first approximation that can be refined over time as relevant and reliable local data becomes available especially from research focusing on sector specific adaptation costing. Most significantly the report reinforces the fact that the issue of climate change is, thus, not only an environmental issue challenging the country but an issue which will directly impinge upon the country’s economic, financial and development future as it deals with its extreme vulnerability to climate change. The significant climate costs identified in this study inextricably shows that climate change is an issue which Pakistan can ill afford to ignore in the future. Finally the report has identified the major financing options available for climate change related activities in Pakistan as well as the significant unilateral climate resources, U$ 4.5 billion in 2007-2009 alone, that the country is already committing to climate change without getting any global recognition for its efforts. In future, global financing will need to augment and leverage such national financial commitments. Also, as climate finance becomes increasingly available at the global level, it would be essential to enact appropriate assimilative national capacity in Pakistan to direct this finance towards nationally identified priorities as well as channelize it transparently and efficiently through consolidated financial mechanisms like a National Climate Change Fund which has been proposed through this study

National economic and environmental development study: the case of Pakistan

Pakistan is a developing country bracing for significant economic growth and development in the future. In this regards, the country is poised to shift towards an increased reliance upon its indigenous coal reserves to fuel its development in the 2010-2050 time frame. Although this will significantly raise its projected greenhouse gas emissions, the present study has identified numerous measures which can be taken to shift this future development pathway on to a lower carbon and more climate friendly trajectory. The country, however, requires this shift to be supported through the access and transfer of appropriate technologies and finance. The ensuing “additional” financial needs for mitigation for a cleaner development future range from between U$8 billion and U$ 17 billion. These have been identified in this report along with a potential of 18% and 40% reduction of emissions between below “Business As Usual” scenario which is possible with a shift towards cleaner technologies. These clean development investments, however, need to be made in the near future as otherwise the energy future of Pakistan will get locked into the lower cost - higher carbon options. This mitigation costing estimate will, however, need to be refined and focused further as Pakistan identifies not only the specific technologies that it needs for this low carbon shift (through carrying out the “Technology Needs Assessment”) but also the programmatic, sectoral as well as project specific NAMAs (Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions) in the near future. Pakistan is also highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and faces immense associated challenges in coping with its unavoidable effects and economic implications. This study has highlighted the need to treat adaptation to climate change as a primary development issue for Pakistan. The potential impacts and sectors demanding prioritized adaptation have been identified in this study and the, associated, costs of adaptation have been estimated utilizing three diverse modeling methodologies – using GDP projections, per-capita figures and “flood” disaster modeling. The resulting adaptation cost figures range from between U$6 billion to U$ 14 billion/year that Pakistan would have to spend at an average in the 2010-2050 time frame to cope with the effects of climate change while it will be also left to, unavoidably, bear significant “residual damage” costs induced due to climate change. The top-down adaptation costing analysis applied in this report is aimed at providing a reasonable first approximation that can be refined over time as relevant and reliable local data becomes available especially from research focusing on sector specific adaptation costing. Most significantly the report reinforces the fact that the issue of climate change is, thus, not only an environmental issue challenging the country but an issue which will directly impinge upon the country’s economic, financial and development future as it deals with its extreme vulnerability to climate change. The significant climate costs identified in this study inextricably shows that climate change is an issue which Pakistan can ill afford to ignore in the future. Finally the report has identified the major financing options available for climate change related activities in Pakistan as well as the significant unilateral climate resources, U$ 4.5 billion in 2007-2009 alone, that the country is already committing to climate change without getting any global recognition for its efforts. In future, global financing will need to augment and leverage such national financial commitments. Also, as climate finance becomes increasingly available at the global level, it would be essential to enact appropriate assimilative national capacity in Pakistan to direct this finance towards nationally identified priorities as well as channelize it transparently and efficiently through consolidated financial mechanisms like a National Climate Change Fund which has been proposed through this study

دور المعلم في تعزيز الهوية الفلسطينية في ضوء المناهج الفلسطينية الجديدة

The study aimed at identifying the role of the teacher in promoting the Palestinian identity in the light of the new Palestinian curricula, and detecting the statistically significant differences in the averages of the sample opinions on the role of the Palestinian teacher in promoting the national identity in the light of the new Palestinian curricula attributed to the variables of the study (gender, the grade, the school district, the school location, the school authority). The researchers used the analytical descriptive method. The study's tool was a questionnaire. The main results of the study were the following: The role of the teacher in promoting the national identity had a large degree with a relative weight (81%), and the fields of the role were ranked in descending order (historical-political- environmental - social).There were no statistically significant differences at ( 0.05( between the averages of the sample ratings on the role of the Palestinian teacher in promoting the national identity due to gender and grade variables. There were statistically significant differences at ( 0.05( between the averages of the sample ratings on the role of the Palestinian teacher in promoting the national identity due to the school district in favor of the West Gaza, and the school authority variable is in favor of the governmental school. Finally, the researchers recommend the following: Preparing a procedural guide for the most important topics related to the history of the Palestinian society, and training teachers on them. Also, Presenting the national symbols in the Palestinian curricula and focusing on their roles to preserve the constants of Palestinian identity.هدفت الدراسة التعرف إلى دور المعلم في تعزيز الهوية الوطنية في ضوء المناهج الفلسطينية الجديدة، والكشف عن وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية في متوسطات آراء أفراد العينة في دور المعلم الفلسطيني في تعزيز الهوية الوطنية تعزى إلى متغيرات الدراسة (الجنس، الصف الدراسي، المنطقة التعليمية، موقع المدرسة، الجهة المسؤولة عن المدرسة). استخدمت الباحثتان المنهج الوصفي التحليلي، وكانت أداة الدراسة استبانة تم تصميمها وتم التأكد من صدقها وثباتها وكان من أبرز نتائج الدراسة ما يلي: أن دور المعلم في تعزيز الهوية الوطنية جاء بدرجة كبيرة بوزن نسبي (81%) كما جاءت المجالات مرتبة تنازلياً (التاريخي - السياسي – البيئي – الاجتماعي). عدم وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية عند مستوى دلالة ( ) بين متوسطات تقديرات أفراد عينة الدراسة لدور المعلم الفلسطيني في تعزيز الهوية الوطنية تُعزى إلى متغير الجنس, الصف وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية عند مستوى دلالة ( ) بين متوسطات تقديرات أفراد عينة الدراسة لدور المعلم الفلسطيني في تعزيز الهوية الوطنية تُعزى إلى متغير المحافظة جاءت الفروق لصالح غرب غزة، ومتغير نوع المدرسة لصالح المدارس الحكومية. أوصت الباحثتان بالتوصيات التالية: تصميم دليل إجرائي لأهم الموضوعات المتعلقة بتاريخ المجتمع الفلسطيني وتدريب المعلمين عليها لتضمينها في ملف الانجاز للطلبة لإعداد أبحاثاً فيها. تعويد الطلبة على تركيب خريطة فلسطين ضمن ألعابهم. عرض نماذج الرموز الوطنية ضمن المناهج الفلسطينية والتركيز على الأدوار التي قامت بها من أجل المحافظة على ثوابت الهوية الوطنية

MRI findings in cranial eumycetoma

Cranial eumycetoma (CE) due to direct inoculation of Madurella grisea into the scalp is extremely rare. We describe a case of CE caused by direct inoculation of M. grisea with the characteristic MRI findings of the “dot-in-circle” sign and a conglomeration of multiple, extremely hypointense “dots.

Superior thyroid artery pseudoaneurysm and arteriovenous fistula following attempted internal jugular venous access and its management

Vascular injury during common jugular venous (IJV) access is a rare complication, usually involving injury to the common carotid artery. We describe a previously unreported complication of iatrogenic injury of IJV access involving a branch of the superior thyroid artery, and its endovascular management

Haemorrhagic shock due to spontaneous splenic haemorrhage complicating antiplatelet therapy: endovascular management

Spontaneous splenic haemorrahge and rupture is a rare but life-threatening condition requiring urgent diagnosis and treatment. Splenic haemorrhage and rupture precipitated by thrombolytic or antiocoagulant therapy has been reported frequently in the literature, but only two cases due to ticlopidine and one case due to salicyclate have been reported. We report the case of a 54-year-old man with haemorrhagic shock due to spontaneous splenic haemorrhage and rupture following dual antiplatelet (aspirin and clopidogrel) therapy. He was successfully treated with selective angioembolization of the bleeding branch of the splenic artery

CT guided biopsy using additional laser guidance: Case series from India comparing with conventional free hand technique

Additional laser guidance during CT guided biopsy has shown promising results in terms of accuracy and patient throughput. We used a simple laser guidance unit that can be easily integrated with any of the CT units for additional laser guidance. We report the first case series of CT guided procedures done using this laser device in India comparing it with conventional free hand techniques

Magnetic resonance imaging findings in a fatal case of Salmonella typhi-associated encephalopathy: A case report and literature review

We describe MRI findings in a fatal case of culture proven Salmonella typhi-associated encephalopathy. MRI findings included symmetrical diffuse abnormal signal in centrum semiovale, periventricular and deep white matter, splenium of corpus callosum and cerebellar deep white matter with central area of restricted diffusion. There was no contrast enhancement, significant edema or mass effect. Previous literature is also reviewed for imaging findings in Salmonella associated encephalopathy