Economic, political and institutional determinants of budget deficits volatility : a panel data analysis

This study has a major motivation to empirically find the fundamentals of budget deficit instability for the period 1984 to 2016 using panel data for South Asia and ASEAN countries. As main determinants the study has considered the role of institutions, governance variables like corruption, political instability, military in politics and conflicts. The economic data is collected from international financial statistics and world development indicators. The data on political variables are collected from International Country Risk Data Guide (ICRG). Panel data models like Fixed Effect and Random Effect Model are used to test the volatility of budget deficit. To make a comparison between results of panel data models and time series analysis this study also makes an arrangement analysing individual countries, using time series data. The results of panel data models and time series models of individual countries both confirm that corruption and political stability are important indicators of budget deficit. To avoid high and unstable deficit attention should be diverted to improve the institutional setup of the economy.peer-reviewe

The role of Nanog expression in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells

There is an accumulation of evidence that shows a significant role of cancer stem cells in tumor initiation, proliferation, relapse, and metastasis. Nanog is the most important core transcription marker of stem cells, known by its role in maintaining pluripotency, proliferation, and differentiation. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the role of Nanog in breast cancer cell tamoxifen resistance and its implications in breast cancer treatment. In this study, the expression of the three core transcription markers Nanog, Oct3/4, and Sox2 were quantitatively evaluated using flow cytometry. Then, small interfering RNA (siRNA) against human Nanog was transfected into tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells via Lipofectamine 2000. Nanog gene expression in the cells was detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The change in cell proliferation was evaluated using the tetrazolium bromide method. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect apoptosis of the transfected cells alone and in combination with 4-hydroxytamoxifen. The results showed a high level expression of Nanog, Oct3/4, and Sox2 in MDA-MB-231 and MCF7/tamoxifen resistant cells compared with MCF7/wild-type. siRNA-mediated Nanog gene silencing can efficiently inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells. This study provides a basis for further study of the role of Nanog in developing resistance to tamoxifen, its implication in breast cancer management, and as a new strategy to enhance response to endocrine therapy

Characterization of Isolated Bioactive Phytoconstituents from Flacourtia Indica as Potential Phytopharmaceuticals-An in Silico Perspective

The dependence of mankind for therapeutic applications on plants dates back to the start of the human race. Natural remedies from ethnobotanicals are found to be safe and cost effective. Due to the poor pharmacokinetic profiles and toxicity problems many synthetic drugs often fails to enter the market thus, the pharmacologically active compounds from plants continued to provide an important source of novel drug leads. The early inclusion of pharmacokinetics consideration in the drug discovery process using in silico methods is becoming popular due to improved generation of software’s. The problems with conventional method required time-consuming multi-step processes against a battery of in vivo biological screening and high cost thus, In silico prediction of the pharmacokinetic parameters, biological properties and toxicity due to advent of chemo-informatics tools, has reduced the cost dramatically and early application in drug design are realized. The present investigation deals with computational evaluation of six isolated phytocompounds from Flacourtia indica for their pharmacological potential and biological activities. These compounds were evaluated for drug likeness properties, bioactivity score, ADME/T profiles, and health affects by using various bioinformatics tools. The result indicated that all the six compounds analyzed were non mutagens, non-carcinogens and having good drug-likeness properties were seen. The ADMET parameters and probability of health effects were analyzed by admet SAR and ACD/I-Lab online tools respectively and results shows the ADMET and probability of health effects values are also in satisfying ranges. Pharmacological activities of these compounds were predicted individually using PASS server many different pharmacological activities and mechanisms of action shown by these compounds were reported. The results of our analysis clearly depict that all six phytocompounds were having good pharmacokinetic profiles with numerous biological activities. These compounds can be further studied in vitro and in vivo for the discovery of novel preventive and therapeutic drug

Magnetic resonance imaging findings in patients with schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: To determine structural abnormalities in the brain of patients with schizophrenia by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). STUDY DESIGN: Comparative study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Departments of Radiology and Psychiatry, the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2007 to June 2008. METHODOLOGY: Thirty-three cases of schizophrenia (n=33) and thirty-three age-matched controls, (n=33) were enrolled for this study. Screening Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of brain was done in order to see structural changes in brain matter. Findings were compared among groups using chi-square and Fisher\u27s exact test with significance at p \u3c 0.05. RESULTS: Among the total of 66 (n=66) MRI films studied for brain abnormalities, brain atrophy, presence of septum pellucidum and enlarged Virchow-Robins spaces were significantly associated with schizophrenia (p \u3c 0.001). There was no significant difference between cases and controls for ventricular dilatation (p=0.5). Sinusitis was mostly associated with controls and well correlated with their symptoms (p \u3c 0.001). CONCLUSION: Brain atrophy was the most commonly seen brain change in the studied sample of patients with schizophrenia. MRI brain can be used to identify structural abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia

Pro-poor intervention strategies in irrigated agriculture in Asia: poverty in irrigated agriculture: issues and options: Indonesia

Irrigated farming / Poverty / Institutional development / Irrigation management / Colonialism / Policy / Privatization / Hydrology / Climate / Cropping systems / Soils / Participatory rural appraisal / Performance indexes / Crop production / Costs / Households / Income / Expenditure / Irrigation systems / Operations / Maintenance / Water users’ associations / Financing / Constraints / Indonesia

Comparative Genomics of Escherichia coli Isolated from Skin and Soft Tissue and Other Extraintestinal Infections

Escherichia coli, an intestinal Gram-negative bacterium, has been shown to be associated with a variety of diseases in addition to intestinal infections, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), meningitis in neonates, septicemia, skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), and colisepticemia. Thus, for nonintestinal infections, it is categorized as extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC). It is also an opportunistic pathogen, causing cross infections, notably as an agent of zoonotic diseases. However, comparative genomic data providing functional and genetic coordinates for ExPEC strains associated with these different types of infections have not proven conclusive. In the study reported here, ExPEC E. coli isolated from SSTIs was characterized, including virulence and drug resistance profiles, and compared with isolates from patients suffering either pyelonephritis or septicemia. Results revealed that the majority of the isolates belonged to two pathogenic phylogroups, B2 and D. Approximately 67% of the isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR), with 85% producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and 6% producing metallo- beta-lactamase (MBL). The blaCTX-M-15 genotype was observed in at least 70% of the E. coli isolates in each category, conferring resistance to an extended range of beta-lactam antibiotics. Whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomics of the ExPEC isolates revealed that two of the four isolates from SSTIs, NA633 and NA643, belong to pandemic sequence type ST131, whereas functional characteristics of three of the ExPEC pathotypes revealed that they had equal capabilities to form biofilm and were resistant to human serum. Overall, the isolates from a variety of ExPEC infections demonstrated similar resistomes and virulomes and did not display any disease-specific functional or genetic coordinates. IMPORTANCE Infections caused by extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) are of global concern as they result in significant costs to health care facilities management. The recent emergence of a multidrug-resistant pandemic clone, Escherichia coli ST131, is of primary concern as a global threat. In developing countries, such as India, skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) associated with E. coli are marginally addressed. In this study, we employed both genomic analysis and phenotypic assays to determine relationships, if any, among the ExPEC pathotypes. Similarity between antibiotic resistance and virulence profiles was observed, ST131 isolates from SSTIs were reported, and genomic similarities among strains isolated from different disease conditions were detected. This study provides functional molecular infection epidemiology insight into SSTI- associated E. coli compared with ExPEC pathotypes

Impact of Credit Risk Management Practices on the Profitability, A Case of Askari Bank Limited

The paper is a study to check credit risk management efficiency of Askari Bank Limited (ABL), and to conclude how Credit Risk Management CRM practices are impacting to increase profitability of commercial banks. Credit risk management (CRM) is a separate department that needs procedures for monitoring and control of the credit risk exposures. For conducting this research, secondary data is collected from annual report of Askari Bank Ltd. The study discusses CRM in general and then it’s implication in context of Askari Bank. The impact of CRM on banks profitability is analysed using regression analysis in which Return on Assets (ROA) was dependent variable and Non-Performing Loan Ratio (NPLR), Loan Loss Provision ratio (LLPR) and Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) were independent. The findings show that NPLR has negative impact whereas CAR and LLPR has positive impact on the ROA. Keywords: ABL, CRM Practice, ROA, NPLR, LLPR, CAR

Antifungal and antispasmodic activities of the extracts of Euphorbia granulata

The dichloromethane and methanolic extracts of the plant Euphorbia granulata were investigated for their antifungal, antibacterial, phytotoxic, brine-shrimp cytotoxic, antioxidant, spasmolytic (antispasmodic) and acetylcholinestrase inhibitory activities. The dichloromethane extract showed strong inhibition against Microsporum canis (90%) and against Aspergillus flavus (50%). Both the extracts inhibited the spontaneous contractions in rabbit jejunum preparations with EC50 value of 0.17 and 1.3 mg/mL, respectively and also relaxed the K+-induced contractions with EC50 0.2 and 2.8 mg/mL, respectively, suggesting a calcium channel blocking activity. However, the extracts did not show antibacterial, phytotoxic, brine-shrimp cytotoxic, antioxidant and acetylcholinestrase inhibitory activities

THE IMPACT OF BEHAVIORAL FACTORS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES REGARDING INDIVIDUAL INVESTOR’S DECISION MAKING: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM PAKISTAN’S STOCK MARKET

The behavioural biases impact the decision-making of individual investor in the stock market, hence, modern finance theories presumed that investor does not make a rational decision. This research paper aims to examine the impact of behavioral factors on environmental issues regarding individual investor’s decision-making in the Stock Market of Pakistan. The data was collected from five provinces of Pakistan through adapted questionnaires; a sample size of 421 individual investors of the Pakistan stock market. This study applied the Structural Equation Model (SEM) using SmartPLS to analyze the influence of individual investor’s behavioural factors on environmental issues. This study finding showed that overconfidence, loss aversion, mental accounting, and herding biases of individual investors positively affect investment decisions on environmental issues. This study attempts to fulfill the gap by analyzing behavioral factors and environmental issues in the Pakistan stock market. However, the current study contributes to the existing literature on behavioral finance and environmental issues in the Pakistan stock market. Furthermore, the current study will be useful for financial professionals, regulatory authorities, or investment advisors, academia as well as practitioners