Food Security and Socio-Economic Uplift of Camel Herders in Southern Punjab, Pakistan

This study belongs to project “Rural development by livestock extension education in Southern Punjab”. A survey was conducted in Multan and Muzaffargarh districts of Southern Punjab by using a pretested questionnaire to collect the information regarding food security and socio-economic status of cameleers in study area. It has been shown from the results that the socio-economic status of camel herders has improved a lot in last decade mainly due to the knowledge about camel and its products. Definitely camel plays an indispensable role in the food security of people of arid zone. Now the people are getting conscious about consuming the camel milk and products as in earlier time there was a taboo to use the camel products and the people did not get their taste developed. Due to increasing health reasons and by the initiatives taken by government departments the people are getting familiar with the camel products. Now the camel has shifted its place from “ship of the desert” and “beast of the burden” to a “food security animal” with great potential to produce a valuable product even in those areas of harsh climatic conditions where there seems difficult for the other domestic animals to produce. The camel herders value the ethno-veterinary practices and still use these for the treatment in camels. Mainly the camel browse on the roadsides but also stallfed with fodder by cut and carry system. The camel plays a pivotal role in the life sustainability of cameleers where they mainly depend on this specie for their livelihood. Hence; this is an integral part of pastoral ecosystem in arid, semi-arid and deserted lands

Portrayal of Camel Production in The Desert Ecosystem of Pakistan

Camel plays a pivotal role in the subsistence pastoral economy of diverse ecozones extending from Gobi Desert and India in central Asia to Somalia and Ethiopia in the horn of Africa. Camel has special attributes including its appearance and ability to survive in hot, harsh and versatile arid environments. Camel has fascinated mankind as it can tolerate many stresses like heat; scarcity of water; water with high salinity and shortage of feed. Camel can digest dry matter and coarse crude fiber better than any other ruminants. Among domestic animals, the dromedary is most important animal being survive in hot, arid and semi-arid regions and has potential to produce higher quality foods (meat and milk) under extreme environments at lower costs. Camel can tolerate solar radiations, higher temperatures and water scarcity. Camel consume those feed materials which remains un-utilized by other domestic animals, thus thrive well on sandy deserts with poor vegetation. Adaptation of Camelids in Pakistan is very well to their native environment as they are performing and well sustaining a life in hostile deserts. The dromedaries provide milk and meat to the pastorals and herders in those areas where the survival of other livestock species is very tough. So, camels equilibrate the food security chain in the deep deserts and provide nourishment to its keepers; proving it to be a good candidate of food security and sovereignty in the desert ecosystem

Growth Assessment in Camel (Camelus dromedarius): A Meta-Analysis Study

In domestic animals, the body weight is the ultimate result of growth which forms the basis of meat production. Sex, nutrition, breed and health are the main factors which influence the growth rate in animals. Heredity which is the major factor affecting the prenatal growth either directly through the genotype of the fetus or indirectly through the genotype of the dam. The prenatal growth patterns and development of the camel fetus is just like the fetus of cattle, however, the meat output from the breeding shecamels is limited often due to longer gestation periods, longer milk feeding periods, lower calving rates under traditional management system. A lot of variation regarding camelid daily growth rate exists that varies widely between breeds, within breeds and regions. There is a significant effect of pre-weaning and post-weaning growth rates on the final body weights in camelids. Management system, the available milk quantity, husbandry practices and vegetative conditions are the main factors that affect the pre and post weaning growth rates of camel calves. However, it is partially dependent on the availability of browsing species throughout the whole year. In this specific study, an effort has been drawn to look into the literature data for camel growth assessment

Bioactive Gelatin-based Date By-Product for Packaging Applications: Physico-Chemical and Biological Characterization

 Biodegradable films from gelatin (Gn) with various date by-product (DBP) concentrations (1, 2, 3 and 4 wt %) were prepared. Elaborated films were examined in terms of physical properties (thickness, density, water solubility, water content, degree of swelling, color), and antimicrobial properties (Escherichia coli and Staphylcoccus aureus). Adding the highest concentration of DBP (4%), resulted an increase in the WHC of film as compared with control film. Moreover, the incorporation of 1% DBP reduced the moisture level of Gn based composite films as compared with the control film. Furthermore, Film with 4% of DBP had the lowest solubility which reached 39.39%. Incorporation of DBP from 1 to 4% showed decrease of L- and a-values. The active Gn-DBP 1% showed less lightness as compared to Gn-DBP 3%. The incorporation of DBP into film-forming solutions led to increased opaqueness for all gelatin-based composite films. The calculated opacity value was inversely proportional to transparency. Moreover, the Active Gn-DBP 1% and 2% film presented effective antibacterial activity against bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The results showed an enhancement in the biodegradability of Gn-DBP films in moist soil. The results reveal the benefits of date by-products incorporated into gelatin based films as a potential material for active food packaging.&nbsp

Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure Tool for Evaluating the Educational Environment: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this systematic review was to study the literature evaluating the educational environment by using DREEM tool and compute overall mean DREEM score by using Meta-analysis. Further, variation in DREEM score was also studied by distributing studies into different time periods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed and Web of Science databases, followed by review and analysis. All the studies which used DREEM as a tool, published from 1997 to December 2015 were included. Heterogeneity between the studies was assessed by I2-coefficient and Q-statistics. Where significant heterogeneity existed random effect, model was used. Egger’s symmetric test and Begg’s funnel plot was used to study possibility of publication bias. The PRISMA Guideline for systematics review was used. RESULTS: Out of 128 published DREEM studies, 43 passed the criteria and included in analysis. Overall mean DREEM score through Meta-analysis was 2.426 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.34-2.52). Studies were divided into two groups for analyzing the time effect. Mean score of the studies published during 1997 to 2009 (group 1) was 2.5 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.35-2.64) and for the studies from 2010 to 2015 (group 2) was 2.39 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.29-2.5). CONCLUSION: Overall DREEM score was more towards positive side than negative. Current review revealed that DREEM has not been used as predictor for achievement of any medical college instead it can be used to predict high and low achievers in a medical school. This review can signify DREEM to be suitable and consistent tool showing learning environment of institute and student’s prerequisites

Conocimiento, actitud y conciencia de COVID-19 entre estudiantes de odontología preclínica y clínica: Una encuesta transversal en línea.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the understanding and perception of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) among the undergraduate preclinical and clinical dental students within Pakistan. Material and Methods: An online survey was developed by the researchers and conducted amongst the undergraduate students at various dental colleges of Pakistan. A pretested questionnaire was used and distributed using social media platforms. The questionnaire consisted of demographics, health status, perception related to general hygiene, understanding and learning attitudes of dental students. Knowledge scores and the attitude responses were compared with the demographics using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA and chi-square, as appropriate. Results: A total of 800 undergraduate dental students responded to the survey, out of which 304(38%) were males and 496(62%) were female students. Students in pre-clinical years were 600(75%), while 200(25%) students were in the clinical years. The knowledge of clinical students regarding COVID-19 was statistically higher (4.71/6), compared to the students in pre-clinical years (4.49/6) (p=0.004). Both groups showed adequate knowledge regarding the route of transmission, symptoms and origin of COVID-19, and COVID-19 being a threat to life. Clinical students did not want to re-use the face mask (75%), compared to the preclinical students (68%) (p-0.048). Students in clinical years reported more awareness regarding the recommended hand washing technique during COVID-19 (p-<0.001). Conclusion: It can be concluded that dental students in clinical years have adequate knowledge regarding the COVID-19 as compared to the preclinical students. The study identifies all areas where preclinical and clinical students lack basic knowledge. This should be compensated by arranging different webinars and online courses to increase the understanding of both clinical and preclinical students during the pandemic.Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la comprensión y la percepción de la enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) entre los estudiantes de pregrado de odontología clínica y preclínica en Pakistán. Material y Métodos:  Los investigadores desarrollaron una encuesta en línea que se llevó a cabo entre los estudiantes de pregrado de varias facultades de odontología de Pakistán. Se utilizó y distribuyó un cuestionario, previamente probado, a través de plataformas de redes sociales. El cuestionario comprendía datos demográficos, estado de salud, percepción relacionada con la higiene general, comprensión y actitudes de aprendizaje de los estudiantes de odontología. Las puntuaciones de conocimiento y las respuestas de actitud se compararon con los datos demográficos mediante la prueba t independiente, ANOVA de una vía y chi-cuadrado, según corresponda.  Resultados: Un total de 800 estudiantes de odontología de pregrado respondieron a la encuesta, de los cuales 304 (38%) eran hombres y 496 (62%) eran mujeres. Los estudiantes en los años preclínicos eran 600 (75%), mientras que 200 (25%) estaban cursando años clínicos. El conocimiento de los estudiantes de clínica sobre COVID-19 fue estadísticamente mayor (4.71/6), en comparación con los estudiantes en años preclínicos (4.49/6) (p=0.004). Ambos grupos mostraron un conocimiento adecuado sobre la vía de transmisión, síntomas y origen de COVID-19, y que COVID-19 es una amenaza para la vida. Los estudiantes en fase clínica no querían reutilizar la mascarilla (75%), en comparación con los estudiantes preclínicos (68%) (p-0.048). Los estudiantes en años clínicos informaron más conciencia sobre la técnica de lavado de manos recomendada durante COVID-19 (p<0,001). Conclusión: Se puede concluir que los estudiantes de odontología en años clínicos tienen un conocimiento adecuado sobre el COVID-19 en comparación con los estudiantes en años preclínicos. El estudio identifica todas las áreas donde los estudiantes clínicos y no clínicos carecen de conocimientos básicos. Esto debe compensarse organizando diferentes seminarios web y cursos en línea para aumentar la comprensión de los estudiantes clínicos y no clínicos durante la pandemia

An interdisciplinary framework for Islamic cognitive theories

The Islamic psychology (IP) community in Europe has recently witnessed a heated debate about the credentials required to participate in the theoretical substantiation of IP and Islamically integrated psychotherapy and counseling. This debate has provided convenient circumstances for Muslim psychologists and Islamic scholars alike to rethink their roles within the flourishing movement. Specifically, the discussions hint toward the importance of adopting a collaborative research methodology for IP, in particular for basic research. The methodology of choice will need to define the necessary qualifications and responsibilities of scholars and psychologists in a collaborative research process (personal collaboration) and evince its capability to appropriately marry knowledge and data, diverging research methods, and perspectives, concepts, and theories from Islamic studies and contemporary psychology (content-related collaboration). Here, we devise and offer a case illustration of an Islamic Psychology Basic Research Framework (coined the SALAAM Framework). This framework uses the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies (IIS) Model of Interdisciplinary Research, developed by the IIS at the University of Amsterdam. Our first aim is to appropriate the IIS model for the IP literature by applying the model's research process phases and technique for the integration of disparate bodies of knowledge—that is, the identification of common ground—to methodological approaches in the contemporary IP literature. Our second aim is to exemplify the devised SALAAM Framework using the relatively unexplored area of Islamic cognitive theories (ICTs), which remain underdeveloped in contemporary psychological literature, primarily because of a lack of commensurability with the nomenclature of contemporary psychology. We thus provide a primer on the potential scope of ICTs. Toward the end of this article, we discuss the potential of the project of interdisciplinary construction of Islamic psychological theory, and the ability of the SALAAM Framework to establish a research program in IP that centers on cognition. We finally offer our reflections on the distinctiveness of Islamic psychologies in comparison to mainstream and Christian psychology.Q4WOS:0004589189000062-s2.0-8506156876

Examining the Factors Affecting Exports Performance: Empirical Evidence from Finland

The present research is an effort to diagnose the exigent determinants of exports in Finland by using time series data from 1993-2020. The study employs a vector-error correction model (VECM) by using Johansen technique for co-integration. The empirical findings of the co-integration indicate the existence of a significant relationship between exports and its various determinants in the long run. The results of VECM revealed that exchange rate and remittances are significant and positive determinants of Finland’s exports in the long run. In the meanwhile, the impact of the exchange rate and remittances is significant but negative on the exports of Finland in the short run. On the other hand, industrial growth and corruption are incorporated in the model as exogenous factors in the short-run dynamics. The impact of industrial growth is positive and significant on the export's performance while corruption is negatively affecting the exports of the Finnish economy. The study suggests a conducive and stable exchange rate policy and control of corruption to encourage exports

Good housing: camels and their interaction with the environment

Camel farming is undergoing a profound transformation. To date, camels can be reared in many different ways, ranging from traditional nomadic breeding to more technological housing systems, with milking parlours and intensive farming systems similar to those used in dairy cows. The different types of housing systems used for camel farming will be described in this chapter. Improper housing systems and facilities can cause severe welfare issues in camels. The chapter emphasizes how a poor environment may affect camel welfare and provides suggestions for designing facilities in compliance with the welfare principle named “good housing”. In particular, good housing is ensured when camels are reared in an environment and building meeting the welfare criteria of “comfort around resting”, “ease of movement”, and “thermal comfort”. Providing camels with adequate space allowance, clean beddings, shelters and shaded areas, and building facilities following the camels’ behavioural needs for movement and sociability are key points for ensuring farming systems respecting the principle of good housing. Overcrowding, lack of movement, and insufficient social interactions are among the main welfare issues associated with improper housing systems. In addition, concerning the “thermal comfort” criterium, more studies are needed to provide more precise guidance on the temperature and humidity ranges to keep camels within their thermal comfort zone