Impact of corporate governance on capital structure of Pakistan

Corporate Governance-CG is a mechanism that protects the interest of all stakeholders specially shareholders in a modern economic and corporate world that is responsible for economic growth of an economy. Capital structure is one of the weightiest decision that effects the performance of the firm. This study empirically finds how corporate governance practices impact the capital structure of the firm.https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuposters/1015/thumbnail.jp

ORAL METHOTREXATE AS SECOND LINE CHEMOTHERAPY IN PLATINUM-REFRACTORY OR RELAPSED SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF THE HEAD AND NECK

Purpose: Platinum-refractory or relapsed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is considered to have poor prognosis. Although cetuximab is currently recommended as category 1 in this group of patients, the use of it is hampered in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Pakistan due to nancial constraints. Further, majority of the population of these countries is unable to tolerate toxicity related to other intravenous chemotherapeutic agents due to lower socioeconomic background with poor nutrition status. The aim of this study is to evaluate the response rate and toxicity of oral methotrexate (MTX) in platinum-refractory or relapsed SCCHN. Methods: Between June 2008 and December 2012, 71 patients received palliative oral MTX either due to recurrent or persistent disease. With a median age of 51 years (range 22–75), there were 68% of males and 32% of females. Site distribution was as following; oral cavity 58%, nasopharynx 25%, hypopharynx 7%, paranasal sinuses 6%, larynx 3%, Oropharynx 1%. Patterns of recurrence; local 32%, regional 07%, loco regional 10%, distant 15% and persistent disease in 36% of the patients. All the patients received oral MTX 10 mg once a day, 4 days a week. To contain the possible side effects associated with MTX, folinic acid 15 mg per oral every 6 hourly on day 5 was prescribed. Response assessment was done on two monthly basis. Response, toxicity, mean response time and mean time to progression were determined. Results: Response to MTX was as following; complete response 3%, partial response 4%, stable disease 11% and progressive disease in 82% of the patients respectively. Toxicity related to oral MTX includes neutropenia Grade III in 1% while mucositis Grade III in 10% of the patients, respectively. None of the patient had Grade IV mucositis or haematological toxicity. Treatment was stopped in 13% of the patients due to poor compliance. Mean response time was 4 months (range 1 – 20) and mean time to progression was 5 months (range 1–23). Conclusion: Oral MTX is a simple, cost-effective and well-tolerated regimen to be used on outpatient basis for palliation in platinum refractory or relapsed SCCHN in LMICs and debilitated patients. This treatment merits further evaluation in large-scale clinical trials. Key words: Oral methotrexate, platinum refractory, relapsed squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck

A Systematic Review of Economic Sustainability of Vertical Greenery Systems for Buildings

Urban areas have been greatly affected by climate change, leading to a rise in global temperatures. Vertical Greenery Systems (VGSs) are becoming increasingly important as a means of mitigating the effects of climate change. This research assessed the economic feasibility of VGSs to reduce the effects of climate change and enhance urban sustainability. Seventeen studies were evaluated in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to determine the various costs, benefits, and economic indicators associated with VGS. Furthermore, the net present value, internal rate of return, and payback period were thoroughly evaluated to gain insight into their long-term economic sustainability. The results show that, even though the initial cost of VGS may be high, it can provide long-term financial advantages to building owners and operators through energy savings, increased property values, and decreased operational expenses. Nevertheless, the extended payback period and negative net present values for certain VGS types make them financially unsustainable. The purpose of this review is to help create evidence-based guidelines and suggestions for the successful implementation of sustainable VGS

Multiphoton blockade and antibunching in an optical cavity coupled with dipole-dipole interacting Λ\Lambda-type atoms

We study multiphoton blockade effects in a single-mode cavity interacting with two three-level atoms in $\Lambda$-configuration having position-dependent atom-field coupling. We consider the effects of dipole-dipole interaction (DDI) between the three-level atoms and show how the presence of DDI strongly influences the multiphoton blockade. For symmetric coupling of the atoms with the field, the DDI induces an asymmetry in the emission spectra as a function of pump field detuning. At positive detuning, the single-photon blockade gets stronger as a function of DDI strength, leading to photon antibunching. However, it becomes weaker at negative detuning and can also completely vanish. We show that this vanishing single-photon blockade is associated with a strong two-photon blockade, leading to two-photon bunching. Therefore, by just tuning the frequency of the pump field, we can achieve two very distinct features. We also study the effects of DDI when the atoms are asymmetrically coupled with the field and show that the proposed system exhibits two-photon bunching. We believe our results are important for the experimental realization of such systems where DDI may be present.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figure

Corporate governance and firm performance: Evidence from political instability, political ideology, and corporate governance reforms in Pakistan

We examine impact of corporate governance on firm performance following the implementation of the changes to the Code of Corporate Governance of Pakistan in 2012. Our sample period from 2008 to 2022 include periods of political instability and shifts in Pakistan\u27s political landscape, providing an opportunity to examine the effectiveness of corporate governance mechanisms in enhancing accounting- and market-based firm performance measures. We find significant improvements attributed to reforms in the regulatory framework surrounding corporate governance practices particularly from expanded scope and composition of boards and audit committees. This led to broader capabilities and effective controls, thus improving firm performance and investor confidence more so during periods of political instability and changes in political ideology

IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON CRYPTOCURRENCIES: EVIDENCE ON INFORMATION TRANSMISSION THROUGH ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL MARKET SENTIMENTS

This paper investigates the relationship between the COVID-19 crisis and the two leading cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin and Ethereum, from 31 December 2019 to 18 August 2020. We also use an economic news sentiment index and financial market sentiment index to explore the possible mechanisms through which COVID-19 impacts cryptocurrency. We employ a VAR Granger Causality framework and Wavelet Coherence Analysis and find the cryptocurrency market was impacted in the early phase of the sample period through economic news and financial market sentiments, but this effect diminished after June 2020. &nbsp

Neurobehavioral and Biochemical Effects Of Choline Chloride Administration in Rats

Background and Objective: Choline is an essential nutrient related to vitamin B complex activity. It can be received through different food sources. It is an important component of acetylcholine which is involved in different brain functions. The present study is designed to assess the behavioral effects of choline chloride in animal models. Methods:This case-control study was performed in the Department of Biochemistry, Federal Urdu University, Karachi for eight months from May 2022 to December 2022. Twenty-four adult male albino Wister rats were divided into four groups, one control and three test groups. Choline chloride dissolved in saline was given intraperitoneally at 25mg/ml, 50mg/ml and 100mg/ml to the test groups respectively, and saline was given to the control animals for two weeks. Memory and depression-like symptoms were monitored. Morris water maze and brain acetylcholine levels were used for memory functions and force swimming test was performed to monitor depression-like symptoms. Results:The present study showed significantly improving memory functions and increase in immobility time exhibited by choline-treated rats indicating depression-like symptoms in rats. The present investigation also shows that serum level as well as glucose level increase in dose dependent manners. Increased depression-like symptoms may be attributed due to onset of diabetes or increased glucose concentration. Conclusion: In conclusion choline administration at different doses (25mg/ml, 50mg/ml, and 100mg/ml) produces behavioral and biochemical effects in rats

Atypical involvement of central nervous system in classic Hodgkin lymphoma: A case report

Background: Hodgkin lymphoma is a systemic disease that commonly involves the cervical, supraclavicular, and mediastinal lymph nodes. The involvement of central nervous system in Hodgkin lymphoma is extremely rare, and diagnosis is usually established using distinct morphological and immunohistochemical staining on the tissue biopsied. Extranodal presentation of HL is a rare occurrence. It has been evident that prognosis is encouraging in patients with disease that is limited to just central nervous system initially or as relapse, compared with involvement of multiple sites of relapse.Case presentation: We herein report a case of a 35-year-old South-East Asian male with relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma. The patient developed a parotid gland lesion, cervical lymphadenopathy with significant weight loss, and intermittent night sweats. Along with spread to the central nervous system, there was a high suspicion of tuberculosis. Upon biopsy of his cervical lymph node, the patient was confirmed to have Hodgkin lymphoma. Immediate treatment began with six cycles of chemotherapy consisting of adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine. The patient received three cycles of chemotherapy consisting of ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide but then was lost to follow-up. Five years later, the patient suffered a road traffic accident. Upon work-up, a right parietal space-occupying lesion with moderate cerebral edema and midline shift was found on computed tomography of the brain. The patient underwent resection of the space-occupying lesion of brain, with features consistent with classical Hodgkin lymphoma on histopathology examination. It is crucial for such lesions to be investigated meticulously to rule out any secondary disease process.Conclusion: Relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma with central nervous system involvement is relatively rare with just over two dozen cases reported to date and is observed infrequently in developing nations. Therefore, space-occupying lesion should always be investigated, and biopsy of such lesions is gold standard to establish diagnosis. With timely appropriate therapy, complete remission can be achieved. However, large-scale studies would be prudent to explore the presentation, survival, and treatment options for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma involving the central nervous system

Case of undiagnosed pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is an opportunistic fungal infection that is usually seen in immunocompromised patients, especially those with HIV, malignancies, organ transplants and on drug therapies like chemotherapy and steroids. PCP has subacute presentation in patients with AIDS which if left untreated gets worse and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Here we present a case of PCP went undiagnosed, partially due to the patient being unaware of his HIV positive status and partially because no organism could be found under the microscope