IMPACT OF REGIONAL WEALTH DISPARITIES ON CHILD SCHOOLING: A CASE OF PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Este artigo tem como objetivo explorar o efeito da disparidade de riqueza entre os distritos de Punjab na matrícula escolar de crianças de 3 a 14 anos de idade no período de 2008, 2011, 2014. Este estudo utilizou o modelo probit e também usa o componente principal análise para criar um índice de disparidade de riqueza distrital para examinar como isso influencia a escolarização das crianças nas economias em desenvolvimento. As descobertas expõem que a probabilidade de matrícula escolar é influenciada negativamente pela disparidade de riqueza dos distritos nos três modelos, ou seja, para todas as crianças. Nas variáveis de controle, os domicílios que recebem remessas levam ao aumento da escolaridade das crianças. A educação dos pais aumenta a possibilidade de escolaridade nos três modelos. A educação da mãe afeta mais a matrícula infantil do que a educação da cabeça em todos os modelos. As crianças estavam menos dispostas a estudar no ano de 2007 para todos os três modelos. Os resultados sugerem que a diminuição da disparidade entre os distritos de Punjab deseja uma distribuição equivalente de fundos do governo de Punjab para os distritos. Pode aumentar o bem-estar da família através da matrícula de crianças no ensino médio. Este estudo cria um índice de disparidade de riqueza distrital usando a análise de componentes principais e utiliza uma fórmula diferencial para explicar as disparidades socioeconômicas regionais nos distritos de Punjab, no Paquistão.Este documento tiene como objetivo explorar el efecto de la disparidad de riqueza entre los distritos de Punjab en la inscripción escolar de niños de 3 a 14 años de edad para el período 2008, 2011, 2014. Este estudio ha utilizado el modelo probit y también utiliza el componente principal análisis para crear un índice de disparidad de riqueza del distrito para examinar cómo influye en la escolarización de los niños en las economías en desarrollo. Los resultados exponen que la probabilidad de inscripción escolar está influenciada negativamente por la disparidad de riqueza de los distritos en los tres modelos, es decir, para todos los niños. En las variables de control, los hogares que reciben remesas conducen a aumentar la escolarización de los niños. La educación de los padres plantea la posibilidad de escolarizar en los tres modelos. La educación de la madre afecta más la matrícula infantil en comparación con la educación de la cabeza en todos los modelos. Los niños estaban menos dispuestos a estudiar en el año 2007 para los tres modelos. Los resultados sugieren que la disminución de la disparidad entre los distritos de Punjab desea una distribución equivalente de fondos del gobierno de Punjab a los distritos. Puede aumentar el bienestar del hogar mediante la inscripción de niños en la escuela secundaria. Este estudio crea un índice de disparidad de riqueza en el distrito utilizando el análisis de componentes principales y utiliza una fórmula diferencial para explicar las disparidades socioeconómicas regionales en los distritos de Punjab en Pakistán.This paper aims is to explore the effect of wealth disparity between the districts of Punjab on school enrolment of children 3-14 years age group for the period 2008, 2011, 2014. This study has used the probit model and it also uses the principal component analysis to create an index for district wealth disparity to examine how it influences schooling of children in developing economies. The findings expose that probability of school enrolment is negatively influenced by wealth disparity of the districts in all three models, i.e., for all children. In the control variables, the households getting remittances lead to increase the schooling of children. Parents’ education raises the possibility of schooling in all the three models. The education of mother affects child enrolment more as compared education of head in all models. Children were less willing for schooling in the year 2007 for all the three models. The findings suggest that the sliding down the disparity among the districts of Punjab desires equivalent distribution of funds from government of Punjab to the districts. It may increase the household welfare by high school enrolment of children. This study creates district wealth disparity index by using the principal component analysis and uses differential formula to explain the socioeconomic regional disparities across the districts of Punjab in Pakistan

Identification of differentially expressed genes in developing cotton fibers (Gossypium hirsutum L) through differential display

Cotton fibers are differentiated, non-dividing cells that originate from the epidermal layer of developing ovules. To identify genes involved in cotton fiber development, we performed non-radioactive differential display reverse transcriptase PCR (DDRT-PCR) on the purified mRNA. This technique was tested on mRNA isolated from five different developmental stages of cotton fiber including 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 DPA (days after pollination). The mRNA purified from total RNA was reversibly transcribed using three anchored oligo-dT primers. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of each cDNA preparation was carried out in combination with seven arbitrary primers. The amplified products were resolved on 1% agarose gel containing ethidium bromide. DNA was extracted from seventeen differentially expressed bands and cloned in pTZ57R/T vector. The sequencing and BLAST search analysis indicated that 12 of the differentially expressed genes matched the previously characterized genes, while 3 of them matched the uncharacterized sequences of cotton fiber expressed sequence tags (ESTs) reported previously to be associated with cotton fiber and 2 of the clones had homology with putative proteins. The technique can be used to efficiently identify differentially expressed genes and can be expanded to large scale studies by increasing the number of random decamers

Investigation of the anti-hyperglycemic and antioxidant effects of wheat bread supplemented with onion peel extract and onion powder in diabetic rats

Aim Onion is one of the commonly cultivated and consumed vegetables rich in nutrients and phytochemicals. Various nutraceuticals are found in the outer fleshy layers and dry peel of onion which usually is treated as a common biowaste. Diabetes mellitus is a leading non communicable disease causing hyperglycemia and increased production of free radicals that potentially disrupts antioxidant enzymatic activity. Considering global consumption of wheat, the present study was designed to evaluate the anti-hyperglycemic and antioxidant effects of wheat bread supplemented with onion peel extract (OPE) or onion powder (OP) on diabetic rats. Methods In this study, ethanolic extract of onion peel and onion bulb were prepared separately. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups (n = 7). Different regimens of supplemented wheat bread (OPE (1% and 3%) and OP (5% and 7%)) were given to diabetic rats for eight weeks, plain bread was used as the control. Blood glucose level, body weight and activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, GSH and MDA in the liver and kidney tissues were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version (25) and Dunnett's multiple comparison test. Results Bread supplemented with 1% and 3% onion peel extract and 7% onion powder significantly reduced blood glucose levels and MDA in the treated rats compared with the control group diabetic rats. Body weight of diabetic rats was reduced for control group, while onion supplemented diet improved the body weight of treated rats. Onion supplementation also brought significant improvement in antioxidant enzyme activities among the treated diabetic rats. Conclusion These findings suggested that onion supplementation is effective in lowering blood glucose and could potentially aid in protecting organs from oxidative stress.Peer reviewe

Proximate and Sensory Analysis of Wheat Bread Supplemented with Onion Powder and Onion Peel Extract

In current era, the agro-waste production is tremendously increasing which strongly influences the stability of the ecosystem and ultimately the human health. Onion is among one of the most commonly consumed vegetables worldwide, but its peel is generally regarded as waste, which is rich in various phytonutrients. Wheat bread is consumed as a staple food by large number of populations hence this study was aimed at improving the nutritional quality of bread by supplementing it with onion peel extract (OPE) and onion powder (OP). A control bread was synthesized using standard formulation while breads supplemented with OPE and OP were prepared by substituting wheat flour with OPE and OP at 1%, 3% and 5%, 7% respectively. Proximate analysis of five types of bread (A, B, C, D, E) presented that addition of onion peel extract significantly (p <0.05) improved the moisture content (21.06-21.79%) of breads while incorporation of onion powder brought significant improvement in fiber (0.24-0.32%), protein (9.80-10.35%) and ash content (1.55-1.94%). Sensory analysis of the breads was done by a semi- trained panel constituting of 7 members. Significant differences were reported among the five treatments for appearance, texture, taste, odor and overall acceptability. Maximum score for all the above- mentioned attributes was obtained by 1% OPE fortified bread while the 7% onion powder fortified bread attained the lowest scores. The sensory attributes of OPE makes it a good flavoring ingredient for baked items.Peer reviewe

Molecular characterization and transcriptome profiling of expansin genes isolated from Calotropis procera fibers

The Calotropis procera seed fibers provide an excellent model system to study the genes involved in fiber elongation, fineness and strength. Expansins constitute one of the important gene families involved in plant cell expansion and other cell wall modification processes. Four homologs of Expansin A gene i.e. CpEXPA1, CpEXPA2, CpEXPA3 and CpEXPA4 were isolated from the cDNA library obtained from fast growing Calotropis procera fibers. These homologs represented typical Expansin A family. Each of them had two conserved domains including GH45 like domain and the putative polysaccharide binding domain. The deduced amino acid sequences of the homologs indicated three conserved motifs: i) eight cysteine residues at N-terminus, ii) four tryptophan residues at C-terminus and iii) a Histidine-Phenylalanine-Aspartate motif in the center of the sequence. The presence of N-terminal signal peptide consisting of hydrophobic amino acids and a transmembrane region in all these expansin isoforms suggests their cotranslational insertion into the endoplasmic reticulum and then transportation to the cell wall by secretory pathway. The relative quantification of the four expansins in root, stem, fiber and leave tissues indicated that the transcripts of CpEXPA1, CpEXPA2, CpEXPA3 and CpEXPA4 are variably transcribed in these tissues. The lowest transcription of all the four Expansin A isoforms was observed in elongating roots indicating that root tissue might be having specific expansins other than those confined to air grown organs

Proximate and Sensory Analysis of Wheat Bread Supplemented with Onion Powder and Onion Peel Extract

In current era, the agro-waste production is tremendously increasing which strongly influences the stability of the ecosystem and ultimately the human health. Onion is among one of the most commonly consumed vegetables worldwide, but its peel is generally regarded as waste, which is rich in various phytonutrients. Wheat bread is consumed as a staple food by large number of populations hence this study was aimed at improving the nutritional quality of bread by supplementing it with onion peel extract (OPE) and onion powder (OP). A control bread was synthesized using standard formulation while breads supplemented with OPE and OP were prepared by substituting wheat flour with OPE and OP at 1%, 3% and 5%, 7% respectively. Proximate analysis of five types of bread (A, B, C, D, E) presented that addition of onion peel extract significantly (p < 0.05) improved the moisture content (21.06-21.79%) of breads while incorporation of onion powder brought significant improvement in fiber (0.24-0.32%), protein (9.80-10.35%) and ash content (1.55-1.94%). Sensory analysis of the breads was done by a semi-trained panel constituting of 7 members. Significant differences were reported among the five treatments for appearance, texture, taste, odor and overall acceptability. Maximum score for all the above-mentioned attributes was obtained by 1% OPE fortified bread while the 7% onion powder fortified bread attained the lowest scores. The sensory attributes of OPE makes it a good flavoring ingredient for baked items202

Drivers of farmers’ intention to adopt integrated pest management: a case study of vegetable farmers in Pakistan

Abstract: Integrated pest management adoption is quite low around the globe, particularly in developing countries, due to different factors. Here, we examine the factors affecting the intention of Pakistani farmers to adopt integrated pest management practices in vegetable production using a structured questionnaire. We interviewed 301 vegetable growers in Multan, Pakistan. The reliability and validity of the data, along with the underlying relationship between the observed variables, were identified through exploratory factor analysis. The majority of the farmers (79.4%) relied on pesticides for pest control. More than four out of 10 of the respondents (43.8%) reported that okra received the highest application of pesticides followed by potato (24.5%) and cauliflower (17.9%). Integrated pest management was currently non‐existent among the vegetable growers of the study area. The latent factors—“knowledge of the adverse effects of pesticide,” “belief in the efficacy of non‐chemical pest control measures,” “perceived barriers to the adoption of integrated pest management,” “progressive farming approach,” and “intention to adopt integrated pest management”—were subsequently confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis. The structural equation model suggested that the intention to adopt integrated pest management is significantly affected by farmers’ knowledge of the adverse effects of pesticides (β = 0.274, z‐value = 3.082, P = 0.002). An increase in farmers’ awareness of the harmful effects of pesticides could lead to integrated pest management adoption for pest control. The scale for intention to adopt integrated pest management developed in this study can be used in future studies and provide valuable insights to the policymakers for devising integrated pest management adoption campaigns in the study area

Intramedullary Subependymoma of Lower Thoracic Cord

Spinal subependymoma (SSE) is a rare intramedullary, benign tumour. Surgical excision is the preferred approach. However, the interwoven pattern of neural tissue within the tumour dictates the extent of resection. Where gross total resection is linked with possible neurological deficits, subtotal resection or close observation may support better functional outcomes. The evidence for the management of SSE is based mostly on case reports. Herein, we review the existing literature regarding treatment options and clinical outcomes of spinal subependymoma