Triple Bottom Line Corporate Sustainability and Organizational Performance: The Mediation of Employees Work Engagement

Management scholars are currently focusing on designing research that could cater the big issues of 21st century organizations including sustainability. Current research uses and extends Triple Bottom Line perspective that conceptualizes sustainability as comprising of economic, social and environmental dimensions. Though most of the previous research has focused on sustainability as a consequence of innovation and quality, present research contributes to literature by studying corporate sustainability as an antecedent of quality performance and innovation performance. Employees’ work engagement has also been incorporated in the framework as a potential mediator. To test the conceptual framework, a positivist research philosophy was utilized with cross-sectional design and quantitative approach via structured questionnaires. Data was collected from Iron and Steel Industry of Pakistan that has second highest growth rate for year 2017-18, and the responses aggregated to 216 in number. Structural equation modeling was used to validate the constructs through measurement model, and to test the hypotheses through structural model. The results revealed that corporate sustainability (economic, social and environmental) positively influences organizational performance (quality and innovation performance), and employees’ work engagement partially mediates this relationship. In Pakistan, the GDP and the cost of environmental degradation are increasing simultaneously. Current research offers a solution to this problem through suggesting that adopting sustainable practices can help resolve country’s environmental issues without taking a toll on organizational performance. It also explains that corporate sustainability leads to organizational performance through employees’ work engagement, thus providing an effective way to enhance employees’ work engagement as well

Poverty Alleviation in Pakistan: Evidence from Project Area of Asian Development Bank in Southern Punjab

The current study identifies the factors affecting rural household poverty by using first hand data from southern Punjab. A Logit model used to check the relationship between dependent and independent variables. Dependency ratio, higher fe-male labor force, person per room, lowering household size, higher education, higher household participation rate and access to basic utilities provided by the government can be alleviate poverty in studied area. Poverty will be more alleviate in rural areas of Pakistan, if government improve basic infrastructure and empowerment of rural peoples and market access facilities. Key words: Empowerment, Market access, Poverty alleviation, Lower Punjab Jell Classification: D14, E24, I21, O12

Use Of Apitherapy: A Sweet Approach To Bony Healing Of Extracted Tooth Socket

Objective: To determine the effect of honey in enhancing the height of bony socket healing after tooth extraction. Methods: This Quasi-experimental study includes 100 patients had were selected through convenience sampling and divided into two groups, i.e. 50 each. A tooth radiograph was taken both preoperatively and postoperatively followed by nonsurgical extraction of tooth. The experimental group was provided with honey and instructed to apply it 3 times daily for the next 10 days using an I/V syringe so that honey reached up to the depth of the socket during the initial healing phase. On the 90th postoperative day, patients were repeated with the periapical radiograph. The bony outline of the extracted tooth socket was traced on a tracing paper on the preoperative radiograph and the 90th postoperative day of the radiograph and compared for wound healing by overlapping and measuring the height through a ruler. Hence, the post-operative height of the socket was evaluated in both groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17.0. Results: The mean age was 30.76 ± 6.57 and 31.02 ± 5.97 years in the non-honey and honey group respectively. A total of 24 (48%) subjects were male in the honey group compared with the non-honey group 19 (38%). Females were 26 (52%) and 31 (62%) in the honey group and non-honey group. Statistically significant  (p-value 0.001) was observed between the radiological Height of the socket on 90 days in honey and non-honey groups. Conclusion: It has been determined that honey is significantly efficient honey in enhancing the height of bony socket healing after tooth extraction. To encourage adequate socket repair after tooth extraction, it may be given as a postoperative treatment.

Mišljenja pakistanske djece o TV oglašavanju

This qualitative study explores Pakistani children’s views regarding TV advertising and outlines the factors impacting their choice of snack brands. Thirty-six children from three schools were selected purposefully and qualitative dana was collected through focus group sessions held in schools. Findings suggest that children understand the intended message of snack brand advertisers. Different variants of brands focusing on some product- and non-product related elements are considered imperative, contributing towards purchase. Children identify brandsn through jingles and cartoon characters and are well-aware of the logic behind TV advertising. This study highlighted children as knowledgeable, straightforward, fun-loving and rational consumers, all of which have some important implications for food marketers. The research is an original contribution to the work in the field of consumer socialization; it is intended to help the readers understand children’s attitude with regard to TV advertising, and identify some of the elements contributing to the choice of snack brands among children.Ova kvalitativna studija istražuje mišljenja pakistanske djece o televizijskom oglašavanju te navodi čimbenike utjecaja na izbor marke tzv. snack proizvoda. Namjernim uzorkovanjem odabrano je tridesetšestero djece iz triju škola, u kojima su putem fokus grupa prikupljeni kvalitativni podaci. Nalazi istraživanja upućuju na to da djeca razumiju namjere sadržane u porukama oglašivača snack proizvoda. Različiti oblici pojedinih maraka usmjereni na elemente vezane i nevezane uz proizvod smatraju se nužnima i pridonose namjeri kupovine. Djeca identificiraju marke kroz jinglove i crtane likove te su svjesna logike TV oglašavanja. Istraživanje je pokazalo da su ona dobro obaviještena, iskrena, da vole zabavu i racionalni su potrošači, što ima važne implikacije za marketinške stručnjake u prehrambenoj industriji. Ovaj je rad izvoran doprinos u području socijalizacije potrošača i nastoji pomoći čitateljima pri razumijevanju stavova djece prema TV oglašavanju putem identifikaciju nekih elemenata koji pridonose izboru marke snack proizvoda među djecom

Impact of Inflation on Dividend Policy: Synchronization of Capital Gain and Interest Rate

The study evaluates the impact of consumer’s buying power regarded as overall CPI on the dividend policy of firms. Dividend yield is used as a proxy of dividend policy. There are two separate equations to explain the phenomenon. The predicted values of capital gain yield against inflation and other supporting variables were first estimated and these predicted values along with interest rate were then put to check the dependency of dividend policy. Its theoretical background is related to classical discussion among financial researchers about the inflation-hedging capabilities of stock investment in short to medium-run. Study is carried out on stocks listed at Karachi Stock Exchange to see the overall behavior of Pakistani Stock Market. Sample of KSE-30 index for six financial years from 2007 to 2011 for the study is used. Following the 2-stage least square regression, the empirical results of the study illustrate that capital gain is affected by inflation levels prevailing for the year and its relationship is of inverse in nature. The market is following the global trend in this perspective. On the other hand, dividend yield is also not independent with inflationary effect. Interest rate is found to be positively related with dividend yield. This behavior of interest rate in the market is astonishing. It may be deduced that in the context of Pakistan, moneary policy and business activities improve simultaneously

Impact of Inflation on Dividend Policy: Synchronization of Capital Gain and Interest Rate

The study evaluates the impact of consumer’s buying power regarded as overall CPI on the dividend policy of firms. Dividend yield is used as a proxy of dividend policy. There are two separate equations to explain the phenomenon. The predicted values of capital gain yield against inflation and other supporting variables were first estimated and these predicted values along with interest rate were then put to check the dependency of dividend policy. Its theoretical background is related to classical discussion among financial researchers about the inflation-hedging capabilities of stock investment in short to medium-run. Study is carried out on stocks listed at Karachi Stock Exchange to see the overall behavior of Pakistani Stock Market. Sample of KSE-30 index for six financial years from 2007 to 2011 for the study is used. Following the 2-stage least square regression, the empirical results of the study illustrate that capital gain is affected by inflation levels prevailing for the year and its relationship is of inverse in nature. The market is following the global trend in this perspective. On the other hand, dividend yield is also not independent with inflationary effect. Interest rate is found to be positively related with dividend yield. This behavior of interest rate in the market is astonishing. It may be deduced that in the context of Pakistan, moneary policy and business activities improve simultaneously

Determination of non-organ specific autoantibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis C and association with HLA DRΒ1 (*04) allele

The regulation of immune mechanisms is controlled by major histocompatibility complex/human leukocyte antigen (MHC/HLA). Polymorphisms of the HLA region have an impact on susceptibility to complex infectious and autoimmune diseases. The present study was carried out to determine the frequencies of ASMA, AMA, ANA, dsDNA, and anti-LKM-1 auto-antibodies in hepatitis C patients and to determine their association with the HLA DRβ1 (*04) locus. It was a cross-sectional, analytical study, and 86 patients with chronic HCV were recruited. The presence of auto-antibodies (ASMA, AMA, ANA, dsDNA, and anti-LKM-1) was determined by indirect immunofluorescence and ELISA, while the HLA DRβ1 (*04) allele was assessed by sequence-specific conventional PCR. ANA was detected in 41%, ASMA in 17.4%, AMA in 7%, LKM-1 in 5.8% dsDNA in 4.6% of CHC patients while HLA-DRβ1 (*04) was present in 3.5% of patients, but this was not significantly associated with these auto-antibodies

The impact of surgical delay on resectability of colorectal cancer: An international prospective cohort study

AIM: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to explore the impact of surgical delays on cancer resectability. This study aimed to compare resectability for colorectal cancer patients undergoing delayed versus non-delayed surgery. METHODS: This was an international prospective cohort study of consecutive colorectal cancer patients with a decision for curative surgery (January-April 2020). Surgical delay was defined as an operation taking place more than 4 weeks after treatment decision, in a patient who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. A subgroup analysis explored the effects of delay in elective patients only. The impact of longer delays was explored in a sensitivity analysis. The primary outcome was complete resection, defined as curative resection with an R0 margin. RESULTS: Overall, 5453 patients from 304 hospitals in 47 countries were included, of whom 6.6% (358/5453) did not receive their planned operation. Of the 4304 operated patients without neoadjuvant therapy, 40.5% (1744/4304) were delayed beyond 4 weeks. Delayed patients were more likely to be older, men, more comorbid, have higher body mass index and have rectal cancer and early stage disease. Delayed patients had higher unadjusted rates of complete resection (93.7% vs. 91.9%, P = 0.032) and lower rates of emergency surgery (4.5% vs. 22.5%, P < 0.001). After adjustment, delay was not associated with a lower rate of complete resection (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.90-1.55, P = 0.224), which was consistent in elective patients only (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.69-1.27, P = 0.672). Longer delays were not associated with poorer outcomes. CONCLUSION: One in 15 colorectal cancer patients did not receive their planned operation during the first wave of COVID-19. Surgical delay did not appear to compromise resectability, raising the hypothesis that any reduction in long-term survival attributable to delays is likely to be due to micro-metastatic disease