ISO, As an Agent of Change for Manufacturing Sector: A Case Study from Pakistani Perspective

Purpose - The purpose and aim of this study is to investigate how and why any organization needs to become registered with ISO. The case is written especially for the students of business management to enhance their capabilities that help them when they go in practical life. Methodology and Approach - This study contains qualitative approach. Data required to write this paper was collected from direct meetings and by conducting interviews from relevant persons. Findings - This whole study concluded that if any organization wants to make their products up to mark and never having to say sorry to customer than they must follow the quality standards of ISO and needs to become register with it. Paper Limitation - This case study is self-reported. Name of organization and names of persons are supposed and these are not basis on truth. It does not consist actual events occurred in the organization. And this study is also limited by the fact that findings relate to only one country. Originality/value - This case study elaborates the complete understanding of how any organization can get ISO quality standards certification. Keywords - Bureau verities quality information, International organizations of standards, Quality, Quality manua

Gender bias and ‘doctor brides’. A social dilemma of medical students in Pakistan

Objective: To assess gender bias, discrimination and bullying at medical schools, and to explore the phenomenon of ‘doctor brides’. Method: The multicentre survey was conducted at 14 medical education institutions across Pakistan from September 2020 to April 2021, and comprised medical students of either gender at both public-sector and private-sector institutions. The survey questions explored beliefs, experiences and knowledge related to common stereotypes and social issues in medical education, including female role models, work-life balance, gender roles, lack of support from family and faculty, and bullying. Association between gender with survey variables was explored. Data was analysed using SPSS 26. Thematic analysis was used to exploring knowledge around ‘doctor-brides’. Results: Of the 377 subjects, 245(65%) were females. The overall mean age was 21.4+/- 1.8 years. There were 211(53.8%) subjects aged 21-23 years, and 368(97.6%) were Muslims. Significantly more women than men were of the opinion that men are encouraged and are more likely to assume leadership roles (p=0.002). More women than males agreed that household chores and work had an impact on speciality choice (p<0.001). Most sexual assault victims were women (p<0.0001), but men generally faced more bullying and hostile behaviour (p=0.014). With regard to women being forced to quit medicine after marriage/childbirth by their in-laws/husbands or change their careers from clinical medicine to preclinical teaching, 99(26.25%) subjects knew first-hand of such cases, while 238(63.12%) had no such experience to share. Conclusion: Gender bias, discriminatory behaviour and bullying were found to be widely prevalent in medical schools across Pakistan. The general perception of ‘doctor brides’ needs to be revisited

Improvement in Soil Characteristics of Sandy Loam Soil and Grain Quality of Spring Maize by Using Phosphorus Solublizing Bacteria

Unavailability of balanced nutrients in nutrient-deficient soils is the key reason in reduced yields of spring maize. After application to soil, most of the phosphorus (80–90%) is lost in the environment because of runoff losses and chemically bonding. So, this makes the phosphorus unavailable for plant use. However, soil microorganisms may provide a biological rescue system which is able to solubilize the soil-bound phosphorus (p). Keeping this in view, the present study is designed to meet the following objectives; (1) to improve physico-chemical properties of soil (e.g., soil water retention, soil enzyme activities), and (2) to improve growth and yield of spring maize (cv. Hybrid YSM-112) through the inoculation of phosphorus solubilization bacteria (PSB). A pot experiment was carried out with the following treatments; T1: control (uninoculated control, CT), T2: inoculation with PSB (Enterobacter sakazakii J129), T3: recommend level of NPK fertilizers (RNPK), T4: PSB + RNPK fertilizers, T5: rock phosphate (RP), T6: PSB + RP. Results showed that the addition of PSB together with RNPK improved the yield and yield-related characteristics of spring maize grown in sandy soil. Moreover, it also enhanced dry mater characteristics and maize grain quality. Soil fertility in the context of P-solubilization, soil organic acids, soil organic matter, enzyme activities, PSB colony, and rhizosphere moisture contents were significantly improved with PSB inoculation together with recommended dose of NPK fertilizers (RNPK) compared to PSB alone, rock phosphate (RP) alone, or PSB together with rock phosphate and control treatment. Maize digestibility attributes such as DM, CP, CF, EE (by 35%, 20%, 33%, and 28% respectively) and grain quality such as NPK, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn (by 88%, 92%, 71%, 68%, 78%, 90%, 83, 69%, 92%, 48%, and 90% respectively) were improved compared to control. In conclusion, improvement in maize crop yield and soil characteristics are more prominent and significant when RNPK is supplemented and inoculated. The present study suggests that PSB, together with RNPK, would improve the maize plant growth and soil fertility in sandy soil