Role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in phytoremediation of heavy metals and effects on growth and biochemical activities of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants in Zn contaminated soils

The increase of metals pollution in soil is a worldwide problem that affects the health of humans and environment. The use of green technology such as phytoremediation is one of the environmental friendly techniques, in which plants and other microbes are used to reduce the level of metals contaminants in soil and lower its uptake towards plants tissues. Studies report that a number of cereal crops such as wheat accumulates heavy metals in their tissues at higher concentrations. In the present study, we investigated the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on wheat plants with the increase of three different zinc (Zn) concentrations (0, 100, 300 and 900 mgkg-1) in soil. After eight weeks of pot experiment, roots colonization, shoot and root biomass, growth, heavy metals contents and other biochemical parameters were assessed. The results indicate mycorrhizal inoculated (M) plants performed better at moderate Zn concentrations (300 mgkg-1). In AMF associated plants, Zn contents were lower in shoot part of plants as compared to roots. In addition, higher P contents were observed in M treated plants as compared to NM plants. The decrease of nutrient contents, growth and antioxidant enzymatic activities were found at the highest applied Zn concentrations (900 mgkg-1). Results indicate that AMF inoculum exhibit different tolerance strategies to reduce metals toxicity in host plants. The effective mycorrhizal symbiosis was observed with wheat plants and can be useful for phytostabilization of Zn contaminated soils which can play a vital role in the increase of food productivity and safety.Key words: Wheat, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, phosphorus, nutrient contents, antioxidant enzymes

Impact of Leaders’ Emotional and Cultural Intelligence on Leadership Effectiveness: Mediating Role of Transformational Leadership

For leaders to serve as effective change agents in the organization, significance of leaders’ intelligence cannot be overlooked. Current empirical study was carried out with an intention to investigate the impact of leaders’ emotional and cultural intelligence on leadership effectiveness through the mediating role of transformational leadership as perceived by followers. With the help of questionnaire, data was collected from the employees of private banks of twin cities (Islamabad and Rawalpindi) of Pakistan. A total of 262 responses were entered in SPSS for analyzing data and interpreting results. The mediating, dependent and independent variables were modeled in a path diagram and tested through structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings of the study indicate that transformational leadership fully mediates the relationships of leaders’ emotional and cultural intelligence with leadership effectiveness. The results of the study provide useful insight into the fact that emotionally and culturally intelligent leaders are more effective because they exhibit more transformational leadership style. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed along with limitations and recommendations for future researc

Comparison of High Intensity Non-Invasive Ventilation With Low Intensity Non-Invasive Ventilation In Patients With Acute Copd Exacerbation

Objective: To determine the outcome of high intensity non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (HI-NPPV) as compared to low intensity non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (LI-NPPV) in patients with acute COPD exacerbations. Methodology: This Randomized controlled trial Department of PulmonologyFauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi from  31st December 2016 to 30thJune 2017. Arterial blood gases will be taken at admission. If values of pH and paCO2 meet the criteria for non-invasive ventilation then patients will be enrolled in the study. Patients will be randomly divided into two groups by lottery method. GROUP A and GROUP B. GROUP A will receive high intensity NIV (HI-NPPV) and GROUP B will receive low intensity NIV (LI-NPPV) by TRIOLOGY machine. Expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) will remain between 4 to 6 cmH2O.  Arterial blood gases (ABGs) will be done at baseline and then 72 hours after admission. Improvement in PaCO2, HCO3, and FEV1 will be recorded 72 hours from baseline and collected on proforma (attached). Results: Mean age (years) in the study was 55.54+3.81. There were 08 male patients included the study meeting the inclusion criteria. Of these, 05 and 03 male patients among both the groups respectively. Similarly, there were 92 female patients included the study meeting the inclusion criteria, of these, 45 and 47 female patients among both the groups respectively. Outcome of the study was assessed in terms of mean PaCO2 (mmHg), HCO3 (mmol/L) and FEV1 at baseline and after 72 hours. Mean PaCO2, HCO3 and FEV1 at baseline was 64.87+5.22, 33.75+4.17 and 0.66+0.04 respectively. After 72 hours, mean PaCO2 (mmHg) , HCO3(mmol/L), and FEV1 among both the groups was 63.98+6.58 vs 41.46+2.40, 33.10+4.81 vs 23.12+2.01, 0.66+0.05 vs 0.72+0.04 with following P value of (0,000, 0.000, 0.000) respectively. Conclusion: High intensity non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (HI-NPPV) has no different outcome as compared to low intensity non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (LI-NPPV) in patients with acute COPD exacerbations

Exposure to Multiple Communication Channels and Preventive Behaviors during COVID-19 in Pakistan: An Application of Extended Parallel Process Model

COVID-19 has been declared as a pandemic in March 2020. Pakistan became the 20th most-affected country as of June, the same year. This study attempts to explore the relationship between exposure to different communication channels and preventive behaviors during COVID-19. The study finds its conceptual roots in the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) which described the two components (i.e. threat, efficacy) through which communication could influence the adoption of preventive behaviors during a health crisis. A Survey of 620 students was collected in the month of May and June from different Pakistani universities. The study extended the EPPM model to be used on measuring the behavioral effect of the exposure to multiple communication channels along with suggesting the health professional and government officials take into account the four components of threat and efficacy during COVID-19 to effectively implement the strategies about preventive behaviors. Findings show a positive association between exposure to different communication channels and preventive behaviors. Moreover, the components of the theoretical underpinning positively mediated the relationship

Advancing Age as a Risk Factor for Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the leading causes of death in developed and developing countries. Age is an important non-modifiable risk factor for acute myocardial infarction. Objectives: The objective of the study was to explore the relationship of advancing age with the risk of acute myocardial infarction. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2019 after getting approval from Institutional Review board of University of Health Sciences, Lahore. Written informed consent and thorough history was taken from the study participants. Group 1 included 45 AMI patients aged 20-60 years. Group 2 included 45 healthy individuals aged 20-60 years. Independent sample t test and chi-square tests were applied for analysis of data. Results: Mean age was significantly higher in AMI patients (50.52±7.31) as compared to healthy controls (30.67±7.20). The risk of AMI increases with advancing age (p<0.001, OR= 2.78). Conclusions: Advancing age is an important risk factor for acute myocardial infarction

Individual-Level Factors and Variation in Exposure to Online Hate Material: A Cross-National Comparison of Four Asian Countries

Internet has become one of the key drivers of social evolution. It has also provided an array of help forming certain kinds of negative behaviors against deviant groups through hate material. South Asia has witnessed a significant raise in online hate activities in recent past. To explore the possible explanations behind this spike, a survey method is used to collect the data from young adults (19-28) from different universities of Pakistan (n=457), India (n=523), Bangladesh (n=426), and Sri Lanka (n=381). The study found the conceptual roots in Routine Activity to understand the nexus between possible offenders (hate groups) and potential victims (internet users). The results showed that there was a significant difference between the exposures to online hate material across four Asian countries. The study theorized three of the possible explanations to account for this variation that include the score of each country on Inglehart-Welzel's self- expression scale, anti-hate-speech laws, and literacy rate. The data partially fits in the explanation of the variation by literacy rate better than the other two. Moreover, men are more prone to exposure to online hate material as well as the people with more social networking sites use, frequent visit to dangerous websites, using internet as anonymous, and having more Facebook friends. The study recommends taking into account the individual factors while formulating anti-hate-speech laws in South Asia. Also, the study recommends conducting a similar cross-national consideration in particularly those countries where the militant groups are using online space to make people radicalized.&nbsp

Comparison of the WHO Retreatment Regimen with the Six Drugs Regimen in Patients of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Objective: To compare the frequency of early response of WHO retreatment regimen with the six drugs regimen in pulmonary tuberculosis retreatment Category patients.Study design: Randomized control trial (RCT)Place and Duration: Chest Department, Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi from 22nd May 2016 to 22nd November 2016.Methodology: Patients who had previously been treated for pulmonary tuberculosis for at least 1 month duration and is a failure, relapse or defaulter case presenting in Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi, both indoor and outdoor were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomized by lottery method to either of the two treatment arms; WHO retreatment regimen or six drug formulations. Clinical features were documented, baseline investigations, AFB smear, Gene Xpert and AFB Culture were sent. Drugs were given on once daily dosage. AFB smear and AFB culture were repeated at 3rd month of treatment. They had a regular follow up in Chest OPD and had monthly visits to the ophthalmology department for visual acuity, fundoscopy and to ENT department for audiometry. Their chest X-ray was done baseline then 3 months. Blood complete picture and liver function tests, serum uric acid, renal function tests were performed baseline, at 2 weeks then 3 months. After their treatment was completed they were followed to look for relapse.Results: Total 490 patients were included according to the inclusion criteria of the study. Patients were divided into two equal groups. Mean age (years) in the study was 40.00+21.10. There were 33 (6.7) male and 457 (93.3) female patients whereas the frequency of early response of WHO retreatment regimen with the six drugs regimen in pulmonary tuberculosis retreatment category patients was 187 (76.3) and 211 (86.1) respectively which was statistically significant (p-value 0.000).Conclusion: The study concludes that six drug regimen was superior to WHO standard regimen in the success rate of pulmonary tuberculosis retreatment category patients which useful in bringing new facts regarding management of retreatment category patient in our country as well as worldwide because of the limited research was done on this category of tuberculosis

The Comparison Of Outcome In Engaged Versus Unengaged Fetal Heads In Primigravida

Objective: Our study aimed to compare the outcome of engaged versus unengaged fetal head in primigravida at term. Methods: The study was conducted at the obstetrics &amp; gynaecology unit, FGPC Hospital, Islamabad. The duration of the study was 6 months with a total of 130 women included &amp; divided into two groups. Females were followed till the delivery of the fetus. Results: A total of 130 women were observed &amp; divided into two equal groups. The average age was 28.71 years± 6.80SD with a range of 18-43 years. Mode of delivery was measured and showed that there is a significant association between mode of delivery and unengaged fetal head in primigravida at term with p-value = 0.000. Relative risk shows that C Section was 2.93 times more in unengaged as compared to patients with engaged fetal heads. Conclusions: The frequency of a surgical intervention is significantly higher in cases with unengaged fetal heads among primigravida at term.

Growth-Led Tourism and the Role of Exchange Rate: Empirical Evidence from Sri Lanka

We re-visit the growth-led tourism hypothesis to examine the role of the exchange rate in the nexus. Using yearly data on Sri Lanka from 1995 to 2018, preliminary tests reveal a long-run association between tourism receipts, economic growth, and the official exchange rate. Consistent robustness results from a battery of econometric techniques validate that the connection holds autonomously and interactively. Conclusions drawn from the linear models suggest that a percentage change in economic growth increases tourism by 0.8% to 1.2%. Likewise, the exchange rate boosts tourism by 0.006% to 0.008%, on average, ceteris paribus. For the most part, the interaction of the exchange rate with economic growth upholds the "growth-led tourism" hypothesis. We also find that the results hold across the conditional distribution of tourism. Additional evidence from the margin plot reveals that the effect of economic growth on tourism is positive as the Sri Lankan Rupee depreciates. The upward trend of the plot within the 95% confidence interval shows that currency depreciation enhances the impact of economic growth on tourism. These are novel contributions to the literature as it suggests that currency depreciation in Sri Lanka is pro-tourism. Policy recommendations are discussed

Patriarchy and counter discourses: a critique of female subordination in dangarembga's nervous conditions

The present study is a critique of an African English novel Nervous Conditions to explore how the writer speaks back to the patriarchal oppression. For this purpose, the researchers intend to explore the patterns of female subordination in African patriarchal society and the ways with which women resist this oppressive system as embedded in Nervous Conditions. The study utilizes Walby's (1990) concept of 'private patriarchy' from his theory of patriarchy. Radical feminism as a feminist perspective of patriarchy provided the theoretical background to carry out this study. Grounded in qualitative research design, the present study utilizes qualitative textual analysis to identify the meaningful patterns working to highlight and challenge patriarchal oppression in the text. The results of the study indicate that the text under study highlights the subordination of African women through seven patterns where they are shown to be a victim of discrimination in the familial domain regarding food distribution, the burden of household work, educational opportunities, daily living conditions, child gender preference, and in freedom of mobility and freedom of opinion/decision. Moreover, the reaction of the women towards this subordination is identified concerning three different aspects where women escape, get entrapped or rebel against this patriarchal system. The study has found Nervous Conditions a challenging narrative that questions the unjust female subordination in a patriarchal society. The researchers conclude the study by substantiating Dangarembga's stance that this game of entrapment, rebellion and escape is disastrous for the females and humanity as a whole