Activity Based Costing (ABC): Implementation and Success in Pakistani Companies

The main quest for this research is to examine the actual implementation experience of the Activity-Based Costing system in the corporate sector of Pakistan. The study investigates the benefits received that are associated with the successful implementation of Activity-based Costing. The study aims to investigate two dimensions of ABC system: 1) what are the key internal organizational success factors for ABC's successful Implementation? 2) Whether ABC system successful implementation is helpful or not in the realization of the associated benefits? Path regression analysis based on Structural Equation Modelling Technique (AMOS) has been used to verify these hypothetical relationships.  Our results verify that internal organizational factors such as management commitment, top management support, implementation training, and resource adequacy have a positive impact on ABC's successful implementation.  Consequently, ABC's successful implementation ensures the attainment of associated benefits such as accurate product costing and better overhead cost allocation. However, the study fails to link it with cost reduction and a better budgeting process.&nbsp

Cushing syndrome in children: Pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies

A rare condition called Cushing disease causes increased morbidity or mortality. Therapeutic methods such as anti-cortisol medications, bilateral adrenalectomy, or radiation procedures may therefore be required to prevent long-term dangers of hypercortisolism, such as hirsutism, moon face, facial plethora, and obesity. Endogenous hypercortisolism increases the risk of cardiovascular metabolic symptoms, osteoporosis, respiratory diseases, psychological difficulties, and infections while also having a high rate of morbidity or mortality. Significant fetal and mental complications during pregnancy are linked to Cushing syndrome. Early detection and treatment are essential. Except in the late trimester, surgery is the preferred method of treatment for Cushing syndrome during pregnancy, with medication therapy as a backup. Cushing syndrome is an endocrine illness that presents differently from other endocrine disorders, making it difficult for doctors to control

Preclinical Ward Teaching Student's Perspective

 History taking and basic clinical examination plays a pivotal role in the training of medical undergraduates. Medical history is the information gained by a physician by asking specific questions, from the patient with the aim of obtaining information useful in formulating a diagnosis and providing medical care to the patient. The relevant complaints reported by the patient are referred to as symptoms, in contrast to clinical signs, which are seen by direct examination of the patient by the doctor. The information thus gathered, enables the doctor to make a diagnosis and plan treatment for the patient. There is a need to encourage active participation of learners by engaging all students rather than engaging a single one while others observe. Thus history taking and examination skill is central to the transformation of a medical undergraduate student into a competent health professional and must be given due emphasis in medical schools. Keywords: Medical history, clinical examination, student prospectu

China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, Logistics Developments and Economic Growth in Pakistan

The study aims to analyze the impact of China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) logistics-related developments on economic growth in Pakistan. The study defined a Cobb–Douglas type of research framework in which the country’s real income level relates to four factor inputs, e.g., employed labor force, logistics development, financial development, and energy consumption in an economy. The study utilized the time series data set for the period 1972–2018. To estimate the long run relationship and short run adjustment mechanism, the study used Johansen’s method of co-integration and error correction model. Estimated results showed that the country’s logistics developments have a significant positive impact on economic growth in both the long run and the short run. It implies that China–Pakistan collaborative efforts for logistics developments will have a strong positive impact on economic growth in Pakistan

The Effect of Critical Thinking Dispositions on Online Media Literacy of University Students

This study was conducted to explore the interaction of critical thinking dispositions and online media literacy of the University Students. The study was intended to find out the effect of critical thinking dispositions on online media literacy of University students. Moreover the moderating effect of gender on relationship between critical thinking dispositions and online media literacy of university students was also explored. The population of the study was all the final years’ students that studying in the BS programmes of physical and social sciences faculties of the University of Sargodha (Main Campus). Proportionate sampling technique was used to select a sample of 300 students from the 15 departments. Quantitative descriptive design was used, and questionnaire was adapted for data collection. The major findings were; a significant positive correlation was found between the critical thinking dispositions and online media literacy of university students. Linear regressions analysis revealed a positive and significant effect of critical thinking dispositions on online media literacy of university students. Moderating effects of gender on relationship between critical thinking dispositions and online media literacy of university students was also significant. It is recommended that attempted to the critical thinking dispositions should be developed in the university students especially for those students that avail from the online media literacy who are doing a B.S or masters in the colleges that affiliated with UOS. Online Media literacy, Media creation projects and Critical thinking dispositions can be apply in any academic area.  Professional media makers use demonstrated techniques for gaining an audience’s devotion

Mapping the Moderating Role of Logistics Performance of Logistics Infrastructure on Economic Growth in Developing Countries

Logistics performance is an important determinant of economic growth. The present study investigates the moderating role of logistics performance of the logistic infrastructure on economic growth in developing countries. We employ the World Bank computed LPI index in the year 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018 to measure the logistic performance. The current research includes the 50 developing economies, and a panel data set comprising of total 300 observations is collected. The study used the conventional Cobb–Douglas production function with labor, capital stock as main drivers of economic growth. The study found that the labor and capital endowments have significantly different impacts in terms of elasticity coefficients for developing countries with different logistics performance levels. It implies that logistics performance, i.e., the efficient performance of logistic infrastructure, plays a moderator role in economic growth in developing economies

Transformation and expressional studies of GaZnF gene to improve drought tolerance in Gossypium hirsutum

Abstract Drought stress is the major limiting factor in plant growth and production. Cotton is a significant crop as textile fiber and oilseed, but its production is generally affected by drought stress, mainly in dry regions. This study aimed to investigate the expression of Zinc finger transcription factor’s gene (GaZnF) to enhance the drought tolerance in Gossypium hirsutum. Sequence features of the GaZnF protein were recognized through different bioinformatics tools like multiple sequence alignment analysis, phylogenetic tree for evolutionary relationships, Protein motifs, a transmembrane domain, secondary structure and physio-chemical properties indicating that GaZnF is a stable protein. CIM-482, a local Gossypium hirsutum variety was transformed with GaZnF through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method with 2.57% transformation efficiency. The integration of GaZnF was confirmed through Southern blot showing 531 bp, and Western blot indicated a 95 kDa transgene-GUS fusion band in transgenic plants. The normalized real-time expression analysis revealed the highest relative fold spatial expression of cDNA of GaZnF within leaf tissues at vegetative and flowering stages under drought stress. Morphological, physiological and biochemical parameters of transgenic cotton plants at 05- and 10-day drought stress was higher than those of non-transgenic control plants. The values of fresh and dry biomass, chlorophyll content, photosynthesis, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance reduced in GaZnF transgenic cotton plants at 05- and 10-day drought stress, but their values were less low in transgenic plants than those of non-transgenic control plants. These findings showed that GaZnF gene expression in transgenic plants could be a valuable source for the development of drought-tolerant homozygous lines through breeding

Exosomes as Biomarker of Cancer

ABSTRACT Rapid advances in medicine and biotechnology resulted in the development of non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers enabling convenient and accurate detection. Exosomes has recently emerged as non-invasive biomarker for a number of diseases including cancer. Exosomes are the small endosome originated membranous vesicles secreted in a number of biological fluids such as serum, saliva, urine, ascites, cerebrospinal fluid, etc. Exosomes contain microRNA proteins and mRNA which can be used as disease specific biomarkers. Here we reviewed recent advancement in the field of exosomes as diagnostic biomarker for cancer along with a brief overview of their biogenesis, function and isolation