Monetary Policy and Financial Asset Prices: Empirical Evidence From Pakistan

Monetary transmission mechanism assumed to be significantly influenced by the effect of policy decisions on financial markets. However, various previous studies have come up with different outcomes. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of monetary policy on different asset classes (shares and bonds) in Pakistan. This study using stock price and bond yield as dependent variable and discount rate, money supply, inflation, and exchange rate are independent variables. Data of all variables have collected from 2010 to 2016, and Vector Autoregressive (VAR) technique has applied. The empirical results indicate that there is an impact of monetary policy components on both stock and bond market as an increase in policy rate causes decline in stocks prices and bonds yields. The findings of this study will help the potential investors in making long-term (in general) and short-term (in particular) investment strategies concerning monetary policy.DOI: 10.15408/sjie.v7i2.709

Antioxidant Capacity and Corrosion Inhibition Efficiency of Sambucus nigra L. Extract

The cyclic voltammogram recorded in the potential range between 0 V and 800 mV with scan rate of 100 mV s−1 was used to determine the measure of antioxidants content (antioxidant capacity) present in Sambucus nigra L. extract. The antioxidant capacity of the extract was 4.06 mg GAE g −1 fw (mg of gallic acid equivalents per gram of fresh weight of the extract). The corrosion inhibition efficiency of Sambucus nigra L. extract on aluminium, copper, and bronze in 3 % NaCl solution was studied by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Polarization data showed that extract acted as a mixed-type inhibitor, that the corrosion inhibition process was spontaneous physical adsorption (ΔG ≈ –16 kJ mol–1) of the extract molecules on metals surfaces and followed Freundlich isotherm. Impedance spectroscopy studies revealed that increasing the concentration of extract reduced the double-layer capacitance and increased the charge transfer resistance. The highest inhibition efficiencies (Cu: ~ 57 %, CuSn14: ~74 % and Al: ~58 %) were achieved for an extract concentration of 1.0 g L–1

Estrogen Promotes Mandibular Condylar Fibrocartilage Chondrogenesis and Inhibits Degeneration via Estrogen Receptor Alpha in Female Mice

Temporomandibular joint degenerative disease (TMJ-DD) is a chronic form of TMJ disorder that specifically afflicts people over the age of 40 and targets women at a higher rate than men. Prevalence of TMJ-DD in this population suggests that estrogen loss plays a role in the disease pathogenesis. Thus, the goal of the present study was to determine the role of estrogen on chondrogenesis and homeostasis via estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) during growth and maturity of the joint. Young and mature WT and ERαKO female mice were subjected to ovariectomy procedures and then given placebo or estradiol treatment. The effect of estrogen via ERα on fibrocartilage morphology, matrix production, and protease activity was assessed. In the young mice, estrogen via ERα promoted mandibular condylar fibrocartilage chondrogenesis partly by inhibiting the canonical Wnt signaling pathway through upregulation of sclerostin (Sost). In the mature mice, protease activity was partly inhibited with estrogen treatment via the upregulation and activity of protease inhibitor 15 (Pi15) and alpha-2- macroglobulin (A2m). The results from this work provide a mechanistic understanding of estradiol on TMJ growth and homeostasis and can be utilized for development of therapeutic targets to promote regeneration and inhibit degeneration of the mandibular condylar fibrocartilage.National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers R56DE020097 (SW) and F32DE026366 (JR

Exploring the Role of Sensitive Responsiveness and Non-Directiveness in Mother-Infant Interaction: An Intervention Approach

This exploratory research study aimed to investigate mother-infant interaction, specifically focusing on sensitive responsiveness, non-directiveness, infant attentiveness, positive affect, negative affect, and liveness. The study was conducted in two phases. In Phase I, the researchers examined these aspects of mother-infant interaction, while Phase II involved implementing an intervention to enhance sensitive responsiveness and address caregiver responsiveness shortcomings. Pre and posttests were conducted to evaluate the impact of the intervention on caregivers. The study included a sample of 10 mother-infant dyads from the Gujranwala region of Pakistan, selected through purposive sampling. The participants consisted of mothers with varying levels of education and occupation, as well as infants of different ages, birth orders, and sibling status. Inclusion criteria required physically and mentally fit caregivers and infants without psychological disorders, while exclusion criteria involved infants or mothers with psychological or medical problems and second or third children based on birth order. The research instruments used in this study were the Mother-Infant Interaction Global Rating Scales (MACI) and the Circle of Security Infant Intervention (COS). Phase I involved pre-test data collection using the MACI model and video recordings of caregiver-infant interactions. Phase II implemented the Circle of Security intervention to enhance sensitive responsiveness and promote secure attachment between caregivers and children. The Circle of Security intervention comprised three sessions, with a 2-day gap between each session. Post-testing occurred one week after the intervention, utilizing the same video recording and decoding procedures. Descriptive analyses and correlations between the MACI scales were conducted. Participants provided informed consent and agreed to have their interactions recorded before and after the intervention. The study's findings underscored the significance of sensitive responsiveness, non-directive behavior, and attentiveness in mother-infant interactions. These factors were found to contribute to positive child personality development and a favorable attitude toward caregivers. The study also identified a lack of sensitive responsiveness among caregivers, which the Circle of Security intervention aimed to address

The relationship between oxide-ion conductivity and cation vacancy order in the hybrid hexagonal perovskite Ba3VWO8.5

Open Access via the Jisc RSC Agreement Acknowledgements We thank the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) for provision of Xpress Access neutron beamtime at ISIS. This research was supported by the Leverhulme trust (RPG-2017-351) and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission for provision of a split-site studentship for AG.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Artificial testis: A testicular tissue extracellular matrix as a potential bio-ink for 3D printing

Testicular scaffolds may be an option for fertility preservation. The aim was to develop various procedures for the decellularization of testicular tissue and to design a bio-ink to construct a bioartificial testis. Ram testicular tissue fragments were decellularized using NaCl buffer, NaCl buffer-Triton, SDS and SDS-Triton. The removal of the cells from the tissues was confirmed by DAPI and H & E staining, as well as the evaluation of the DNA content. Alcian blue, Orcein and Masson's trichrome staining methods were also used to confirm that T-ECM was preserved intact. Then, the optimal decellularization protocol was selected to determine the parameters of the bio-ink and printing of the scaffold. The extracted T-ECM was used to print the hydrogel scaffold in combination with alginate-gelatin. The printability, morphological, mechanical and biological properties of the printed hydrogels were characterized. Decellularization of testicular tissue fragments using the NaCl buffer-Triton protocol was significantly more efficient than other decellularization methods in removing the cellular debris and preserving the T-ECM compounds. The 3D printed scaffold with 5 T-ECM showed a uniform surface morphology with high cell attachment and cyto-biocompatibility properties for spermatogonia stem cells in vitro and in vivo compared to other groups. It is concluded that T-ECM can be used as a biomimetic material to make an artificial testis with possible in vitro sperm production. © 2021 The Royal Society of Chemistry

An Investigation of the Crystal Structure and Ionic Pathways of the Hexagonal Perovskite Derivative Ba3-xVMoO8.5

Acknowledgements We thank the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) for provision of Xpress Access neutron beamtime at ISIS. This research was supported by the Leverhulme trust (RPG-2017-351 and DS-2017-073). DNT, a Leverhulme Trust Doctoral Scholar, is part of the PhD scholarships of the “Leverhulme Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Production of Chemicals and Materials” at the University of Aberdeen (Scotland, United Kingdom). AG is supported by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.Peer reviewedPostprin

Mapping of disease resistance loci in barley based on visual assessment of naturally occurring symptoms

Using field-scored data of disease severity under natural infestation, we mapped loci affecting resistance to powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis DC f. sp. hordei Ém. Marchal), leaf rust (Puccinia hordei Otth.), stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici Eriks. & E. Henn.), scald [Rhynchosporium secalis (Oudem.) J.J. Davis], and net blotch (Pyrenophora teres Drechs.). The mapping population included parents and doubled-haploid progeny of the two-row barley cross Harrington/TR306. Resistance was affected by two to five loci, explaining 8 to 45% of the phenotypic variance, per disease. All chromosomes, except chromosome 5 (1H), contained regions with at least one disease resistance locus. One region on chromosome 4 (4H) contributed to resistance to stem rust, scald, and net blotch. This region has previously been reported to affect days to heading and maturity. Two known resistance genes in the population, Rpgl and M1g, were mapped to within 3 centimorgans (cM) of their previously estimated genomic locations by simple interval mapping of the field-scored data. This indicates that the genomic positions of disease resistance genes can be estimated accurately with simple interval mapping, even on the basis of field-scored data