Globalization: Information Technology and Economic Growth Nexus: Empirical Evidence from ARDL Model Approach to Co-integration and Causality Analysis

This study provides a realistic examination of link between economic growth, information technology and its elements with particular attention on the stock market advancement in Pakistan.  Our results recommend a positive connection between well-organized stock market and economic growth equally in long run and short run. In financial theory globalization information technology would affect the increase economic development. This study investigates the influence of globalization and economic advancement on income disparity in Pakistan. In this study, we used the annual time series data and also used autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) econometric technique. We collected this data 1973 to 2014 from state bank of Pakistan and international financial statistics. From this study, it is decided that, globalization information technology has substantial effect on income parity; the economic growth rate is also achieving the income equality. In the policy outlook trade openness, foreign payment, foreign direct investment, may contribute in reducing inequality, the key variables used in this study are like savings, inflation, and exchange rate, gross domestic product, investment. This implies that, if this country wants to increase the economic growth, then to formulate and strictly implement some particular policies that facilitate investment in ICT

Globalization: Information Technology and Economic Growth Nexus: Empirical Evidence from ARDL Model Approach to Co-integration and Causality Analysis

This study provides a realistic examination of link between economic growth, information technology and its elements with particular attention on the stock market advancement in Pakistan.  Our results recommend a positive connection between well-organized stock market and economic growth equally in long run and short run. In financial theory globalization information technology would affect the increase economic development. This study investigates the influence of globalization and economic advancement on income disparity in Pakistan. In this study, we used the annual time series data and also used autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) econometric technique. We collected this data 1973 to 2014 from state bank of Pakistan and international financial statistics. From this study, it is decided that, globalization information technology has substantial effect on income parity; the economic growth rate is also achieving the income equality. In the policy outlook trade openness, foreign payment, foreign direct investment, may contribute in reducing inequality, the key variables used in this study are like savings, inflation, and exchange rate, gross domestic product, investment. This implies that, if this country wants to increase the economic growth, then to formulate and strictly implement some particular policies that facilitate investment in ICT

Relationship Between Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase Levels and Dengue Severity

To determine relationship betweenthe levels of serum Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)onadmission and prognosis of dengue fever.Methods: Patients (n=62) admitted with thediagnosis of dengue fever were included. Onadmission, serum LDH levels were measured in allpatients and to find relationship we monitored allpatients upto discharge. Monitoring was done forvitals, different blood parameters and duration ofhospitalization.Results: Forty one (66.1%) were males and 33.9%(n=21) were females with mean age31.73±13years.During hospital stay, 61.3% patientshad Dengue fever (DF)while 39.7% patientsdeveloped dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).LDHlevels were higher in patients with DHF(mean618.38U/L±219)as compared to the patients withdengue fever (mean 316.45U/L±104).Mann WhitneyU test showed the difference was statisticallysignificant (p<0.001).Conclusion: Patients with early increase in serumLDH showed more complications as compared tolow serum LDH level. High LDH can be used topredict outcome in dengue patients

The Problem-Based Learning Approach towards Developing Soft Skills: A Systematic Review

In this paper, we review systematically the role of problem-based learning (PBL) in developing soft skills in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and other fields of studies. The Systematic Literature Review (SLR) includes the most recent empirical, review, and conceptual studies from TVET and other multiple fields of studies including medicine, humanities, and engineering between the years of 2001 and 2016 collected from four databases. A qualitative method was used to accomplish the systematic review. After the collection of articles, the selected studies were analyzed through thematic analysis. From this review, we concluded that PBL as an instructional approach has a significant role in the development of soft skills among students of various disciplines including TVET; empirical evidence is predominantly conclusive in identifying the acquisitions of various soft skills including communication skills, conflict resolution skills, leadership skills, and interpersonal skills, and finally, several factors might influence the relationship of PBL and soft skills such as duration and process of PBL instruction, role of facilitator, and awareness and training of learners. Moreover, there are fewer number of empirical studies on the role and effects of PBL approach to developing soft skills in TVET

The role of integrated offline/online social activity and social identification in Facebook citizenship behaviour formation

Purpose<: Drawing on social identity theory and prosocial behaviour research, this study explores how people's integration of their offline and online social activities through Facebook cultivates their Facebook citizenship behaviour (FCB). It also offers further insight into the underlying mechanism of offline and online social activity integration - FCB relation by investigating people's social identification with their offline and online social groups as possible mediators. Design/methodology/approach: Based on social identity theory (SIT) literature, community citizenship behaviour and offline-online social activity integration through Facebook, we developed a conceptual model, which was empirically tested using data from 308 Facebook users Findings: The results confirm that the participants' offline-online social activity integration via Facebook is positively linked to their FCB. Further, the integration of offline and online social activity through Facebook positively affects how a person identifies with their offline and online social groups, which in turn causes them to display FCB. In addition, offline/online social identification mediates the integration – FCB relation. Practical implications: In practice, it is interesting to see people's tendency towards altruistic behaviours within groups they like to associate themselves with. Those who share their Facebook network with their offline friends can use such network to seek help and support. Originality/value: From a theoretical perspective, unlike past research, this study examines how individuals' offline-online social activity integration via Facebook helps them associate with groups. In addition, this study investigates social identification from an offline and online perspective

MORPHOLOGIC SPECTRUM AND CLINICO-PATHOLOGICAL CORRELATION OF GASTROINTESTINAL STROMAL TUMOURS: AN EXPERIENCE OF SIX YEARS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the morphologic spectrum and risk category of gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) and compare with overall patient survival.Materials and Methods: It is a descriptive observational study. The study was carried at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad. Duration of the study was from January 2009 to January 2015. A total of 31 patients with the diagnosis of GIST were included, irrespective of age and gender. Data were retrieved from laboratory information system. Results were analysed by statistical software, Statistical Package of the Social Sciences. Morphologic type, site of tumour, risk category and overall survival were determined and mean, standard deviation, frequencies and percentages were calculated for age site and risk category. Results: Of 31 patients, 21 (67.7%) were male and 10 (32.3%) were female. Site of tumour was as follows: Gastric 13 (41.9%), extra visceral 6 (19.4%), small intestine 9 (29.0%), rectum 2 (6.5%) and pancreas 1 (3.2%). According to risk categorisation, one was categorised as (3.2%) very low risk, 3 (9.7%) low risk, 5 (16.1%) intermediate risk and 22 (71%) high risk. Follow-up was available in 21 patients. 7 patients (22.5%) lost to follow-up. 8 (25%) had recurrence and 4 (12.9%) died. Conclusion: Majority of cases diagnosed at our centre were gastric in origin followed by small intestine, and as per risk categorisation, most were high risk. Patient survival with high-risk tumours was dismal. Key words: Gastrointestinal stromal tumour, immunohistochemistry, risk categorisation

Un estudio sobre el uso de combinaciones de palabras en estudiantes de administración

Previous studies have reported lack of collocational competence and difficulties among English as a second language (ESL) learners. However, collocation is crucial in second language acquisition. This research examined the receptive and productive knowledge of collocations among the business students of COMSATS University Islamabad Vehari Campus who studied ESL. It also investigated the gap in the use of collocations at a receptive and productive level. The sample included 61 males and 39 females out of the total sample size of 100. Employing a quantitative approach, we gathered the data through a questionnaire and two collocations tests, and we analysed them via SPSS version 20. The overall result of the collocation test indicated that 66.4% of the respondents had the correct answer at the receptive level compared with only 33.7% at the productive level. Moreover, the statistical result presented a great gap in the ability to utilise collocations at the productive and receptive levels. This result also affirmed that despite their ability to understand the collocations, the students had difficulties in identifying proper English collocations confidently. Local and native language experiences might be one of the reasons that caught the students from being more confident in identifying the English collocations.Previos estudios han informado de la falta de competencia en la ubicación y las dificultades entre los estudiantes de inglés como segunda lengua (ESL). Sin embargo, las combinaciones de palabras son cruciales en la adquisición de un segundo idioma. Esta investigación examinó el conocimiento receptivo y productivo de las combinaciones de palabras entre los estudiantes de administración de la Universidad COMSATS de Islamabad (Campus de Vehari) que estudiaron ESL. También investigó la brecha en el uso de estas combinaciones a nivel receptivo y productivo. La muestra incluyó 61 hombres y 39 mujeres, de un total de 100. Empleando un enfoque cuantitativo, recopilamos los datos mediante un cuestionario y dos pruebas de colocaciones, y los analizamos por medio del programa SPSS versión 20. El resultado general de la prueba de colocación indicó que el 66,4 % de los encuestados tenía la respuesta correcta a nivel receptivo y solo el 33,7 % a nivel productivo. Además, el resultado estadístico presentó una gran brecha en la capacidad de utilizar combinaciones de palabras en los niveles productivo y receptivo. Este resultado también afirmó que, a pesar de su capacidad para comprender las combinaciones de palabras, los estudiantes tenían dificultades para identificar con seguridad (...

Use of Gabapentin in the Treatment of Substance Use and Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review

Objective: Gabapentin (GBP) is an anticonvulsant medication that is also used to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS) and posttherapeutic neuralgia. GBP is commonly prescribed off-label for psychiatric disorders despite the lack of strong evidence. However, there is growing evidence that GBP may be effective and clinically beneficial in both psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders. This review aimed to perform a systematic analysis of peer-reviewed published literature on the efficacy of GBP in the treatment of psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders. Methods: This review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The PubMed and Ovid MEDLINE literature databases were screened and filtered by using specific search terms and inclusion/exclusion criteria. The full texts of selected studies were subsequently retrieved and reviewed. The search terms generated 2,604 results from the databases. After excluding all duplicates, 1,088 citations were left. Thereafter, we applied inclusion and exclusion criteria; a total of 54 papers were retained for detailed review. Results: This literature review concludes that GBP appears to be effective in the treatment of various forms of anxiety disorders. It shows some effectiveness in bipolar disorder as an adjunctive therapeutic agent, while the evidence for monotherapy is inconclusive. In substance use disorders, GBP is effective for acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) with mild to moderate severity; it reduces cravings, improves the rate of abstinence, and delays return to heavy drinking. GBP may have some therapeutic potential in the treatment of opioid addiction and cannabis dependence, but there is limited evidence to support its use. No significant benefit of GBP has been conclusively observed in the treatment of OCD, PTSD, depression, or cocaine and amphetamine abuse. Conclusion: GBP appears to be effective in some forms of anxiety disorders such as preoperative anxiety, anxiety in breast cancer survivors, and social phobia. GBP has shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of alcohol dependence. However, the literature suggests that GBP is effective as an adjunctive medication rather than a monotherapy. More clinical trials with larger patient populations are needed to support gabapentin\u27s off-label use in psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders. It is worth noting that numerous clinical studies that are discussed in this review are open-label trials, which are inherently less rigorously analyzed. Therefore, more extensive investigations are required to examine not only the efficacy of GBP, but also its safety and tolerance

Interplay of weak noncovalent interactions in alkoxybenzylidene derivatives of benzohydrazide and acetohydrazide: a combined experimental and theoretical investigation and lipoxygenase inhibition (LOX) studies

In this study, three new hydrazide-based Schiff bases (1-3) have been synthesizedviasonication in good to excellent yields 73-90% and mainly characterized by UV-visible, IR,1H-NMR and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal structure of compounds1and2is stabilized by N-H⋯O, C-H⋯O and C-H⋯N hydrogen bonds, as well as C-H⋯π contacts. In addition, weak π⋯π stacking interactions were observed in the structure of2. A detailed analysis of the intermolecular interactions that stabilize the crystal packing has been performed by using Hirshfeld surface analysis and energy framework calculations were carried out to analyze and visualize the topology of the supramolecular assembly, indicating that the dispersion energy is dominant over the electrostatic one in the most energetic dimers of both compounds. The interaction energies associated with the noncovalent interactions observed in the crystal structures and the interplay between them have been calculated using DFT calculations. Moreover, these intermolecular interactions were also characterized by using both Bader´s quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) and NCI plots. The synthesized alkoxybenzylidene analogs of benzohydrazide and acetohydrazide were screenedin vitroagainst soybean lipoxygenase and were found to show better activity than the standard indomethacin. Putative binding modes and comparison of binding interactions in the protein-ligand complex were analyzed by molecular docking studies.Fil: Ahmed, Muhammad Naeem. University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir; PakistánFil: Arif, Muneeba. University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir; PakistánFil: Andleeb, Hina. Quaid-i-Azam University; Pakistán. International Islamic University Islamabad; PakistánFil: Ali Shah, Syed Wadood. University of Malakand; PakistánFil: Arshad, Ifzan. Quaid-i-Azam University; PakistánFil: Tahir, Muhammad Nawaz. University of Sargodha; PakistánFil: Rocha, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Química del Noroeste. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química del Noroeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química Orgánica; ArgentinaFil: Gil, Diego Mauricio. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Biotecnología Farmacéutica y Alimentaria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Biotecnología Farmacéutica y Alimentaria; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química Orgánica; Argentin