Do the Financial Slacks Improve the Performance of Agribusiness? A Mediating Role of Corporate Social Responsibility Activities

Abstract                                                                                                      Purpose- Increasing environmental issues are demanding considerable attention toward corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in developing countries. Agribusiness firms can take advantage of their excess financial resources by investing them in CSR activities which may improve their performance. Therefore, this study aims to empirically analyze the utilization of the financial slack in CSR activities which can enhance the performance of agribusiness in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach- This study used a sample of sixty-two (62) Agribusiness firms of Pakistan for a period of six years i.e. from 2013 to 2018. The study employed the Content Analysis technique to measure the CSR index of the agribusiness firms whereas the available and potential slack were used as financial slack indicators. It used panel data set with Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) Path analysis in Stata for the proposed models. Findings- The results show that investing a firm’s available slack resources in CSR initiatives positively affects the performance (RCE) of agribusiness firms in the short run as indicated by partial mediation. It is also found that the available slack has a significant negative impact on the long-term performance measures (Tobin’s Q) of the agribusiness firms in Pakistan. The impact of potential slack is insignificant on CSR and RCE, showing the reluctance of firms to take additional debt for the CSR initiatives. Research limitations/implications- The findings can serve as a robust empirical base for policymakers to initiate an improved level of CSR activities by the agribusiness firms in Pakistan as well as for the managers and regulators to understand the importance of slack organizational resources in CSR investment decision making. The study emphasizes the use of financial slack for the short run by introducing CSR activities that curtail agency conflicts and costs and improve agribusiness performance. Originality/value- This study offers a distinctive perspective regarding the financial slack performance of agribusiness firms by linking the CSR perspective as a mediator. Keywords: Corporate Social responsibility, Availab Slack resources, Potential Slack, CSR Investments, Firm Performance

Incidence of COVID-19 in random trauma patients at DHQ Teaching Hospital, Rawalpindi, measures to prevent its spread among patients and health care workers

Background: The objective of the study was to see the incidence of COVID-19 positive, in random trauma patients received in the emergency of abdomen or chest may be penetrating or blunt. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in the Accident and Emergency department of District Head Quarter Hospital, Rawalpindi. All trauma patients of abdomen or chest either penetrating or blunt admitted from 1-3-20 to 10-6-20 were included, irrespective of age, gender, comorbidities, and COVID-19 status at the time of admission to hospital. Also to see steps of preventive measures taken in the emergency department, operation theatres, and inwards. Results: Total number of trauma patients received in the emergency department of District Headquarter Hospital Rawalpindi during this period was 163. Total male patients: 116. Total female patients:47. Penetrating injuries (firearm or stab wounds): 93. Blunt injuries: 70. All the penetrating injuries were operated as an emergency. Among blunt injuries, 51 were operated 19 were treated conservatively. Preoperatively none of the patients’ COVID-19 test was performed because none of them showed any symptoms likely of COVID-19 such as chest infection, flue, malaise, or fever. After the second postoperative day, 12 of the patients developed respiratory distress and their COVID-19 test was sent. Out of 12 patients, 7 turned out to be COVID-19 positive. Other on the second or third postoperative day 7 patients had fever without chest symptoms and underwent COVID-19 testing. 3 turned out to be COVID-19 positive. So a total of 11 patients were found to be positive for COVID-19. The percentage became 6.7% which is quite high. Conclusion: From this study, its clear in acute trauma patients where you can’t go for the COVID-19 test even then we have to operate may be positive. So every trauma patient should have suspected COVID-19 positive and preventive measures should be taken starting from the emergency department till operation theatres

Motivation behind Bicycling Habit in Sylhet City of Bangladesh

The study was conducted in the Sylhet City of Bangladesh. The purpose of the study is to explore the motivational factors behind bicycling habit in Sylhet. Analysis of secondary data and a focus group session with pioneer cyclists contributed in obtaining variables for the study. A sample of 100 respondents of Sylhet participated in this study. Judgemental sampling technique has been used to obtain data from self-administered structured questionnaire. Statistical analyses used in the survey are Exploratory Factor Analysis to identify factors and Frequencies for analysing demographic variables. The result of the study explains four factors. Findings show that the favorable factors towards cycling are Factor 1, Health and Factor 2, Convenience. Factor 3, Weather and Factor 4 Security are deterrent factors in cycling.The research findings provide wider scope for urban planning and catering of promotional strategies by bicycle marketers. In an overly populated country like Bangladesh, bicycling can give us a congestion free road and the plociy makers can grab this opportunity to make a better strategy for urban planning

Methyl 2-(2-amino-1,3-thia­zol-4-yl)-2-[(Z)-methoxy­carbonyl­methoxy­imino]ethano­ate

In the mol­ecule of the title compound, C9H11N3O5S, the thia­zole ring is oriented at dihedral angles of 87.33 (3) and 87.18 (3)° with respect to the planar (r.m.s. deviations 0.0136 and 0.0139 Å) methyl ester groups. The dihedral angle between the methyl ester groups is 44.20 (3)°. In the crystal structure, inter­molecular N—H⋯N, N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules along the a axis, through R 2 2(8) and R 2 2(22) ring motifs, forming infinite two-dimensional polymeric sheets. π–π Contacts between the thia­zole rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.536 (2) Å] may further stabilize the structure

Comparative Study of the Dynamics of Cosmic Rays for the Pakistan and China Atmospheric Regions

This paper presents an analysis of cosmic ray intensity in Pakistan air space using spatial interpolation, comparing it with Chinese cosmic ray records from 1984 to 1993. The Exploratory Data Analytic (EDA) approach was applied to compare the cosmic ray fluctuations in both countries. The time series plot of the monthly cosmic rays showed relatively flatter counts in Pakistan than in China. The cosmic ray data for the years 1984 to 1993 fell within Solar Cycle 22, which lasted from 1986 to 1996, with its maximum phase in 1989 to 1991. The cosmic radiation varies between the atmospheric regions of Pakistan and China due to modulations in intensity that are accessible accordingly. It can be explained by purely astrophysical phenomena: (1) the source of emission of cosmic radiation may be different, (2) the rate at which emanation takes place depends on bursts of deep space dynamical objects from their sources that may be affected by solar wind and other solar radiations. Therefore, modulations in intensity are not only due to different geophysical locations. This study will help government organizations to predict and forecast cosmic rays values

Frequency of Discitis in Lumbar Discectomy Patients: A Two Year Study

Objective: Aim of conducting the study was to evaluate the incidence of post op discitis in lumbo-sacral disc surgeries.Materials and Methods: This observational prospective study was carried out in Neurosurgery unit Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar for 12 months (1st July 2017– 30thJune 2019).A total of 250 patients operated for lumbar disc surgeries were enrolled in the study, both genders and age range of 16-60 were in inclusion criteria.Patients with co-morbidities e.g., poorly controlled diabetics and immunosuppressed patients were excluded from the study. All patients were followed to calculate the frequency of discitis. Results: Among the 250 cases, 11 (4.4%) were diagnosed with discitis. 15% cases had slight sign and symptoms, pain and surgical scar tenderness not warranting the diagnosis of discitis. The mean age in this study was 37 years with Standard Deviation of 13.769. Male cases were 133 (53.2%) while females were 117 (46.8%). Discitis was more common at L4-5.Conclusion: From this data it was concluded that incidence of discitis is slightly higher in our setup than international discitis incidence/rates. The possible reason could be (to some extent) due to inefficient/poorly resourced infection prevention committee and partly due to less standardized OT system in comparison to international OT complex standards

Frequency of Discitis in Lumbar Discectomy Patients: A Two Year Study

Objective: Aim of conducting the study was to evaluate the incidence of post op discitis in lumbo-sacral disc surgeries.Materials and Methods: This observational prospective study was carried out in Neurosurgery unit Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar for 12 months (1st July 2017– 30thJune 2019).A total of 250 patients operated for lumbar disc surgeries were enrolled in the study, both genders and age range of 16-60 were in inclusion criteria.Patients with co-morbidities e.g., poorly controlled diabetics and immunosuppressed patients were excluded from the study. All patients were followed to calculate the frequency of discitis. Results: Among the 250 cases, 11 (4.4%) were diagnosed with discitis. 15% cases had slight sign and symptoms, pain and surgical scar tenderness not warranting the diagnosis of discitis. The mean age in this study was 37 years with Standard Deviation of 13.769. Male cases were 133 (53.2%) while females were 117 (46.8%). Discitis was more common at L4-5.Conclusion: From this data it was concluded that incidence of discitis is slightly higher in our setup than international discitis incidence/rates. The possible reason could be (to some extent) due to inefficient/poorly resourced infection prevention committee and partly due to less standardized OT system in comparison to international OT complex standards