Do Z-Score and Current Ratio have Ability to Predict Bankruptcy?

Altman’s Z-score Model (1968) is the Strongest Predictor of the bankruptcy and after its development many studies have been conducted to assess the financial viability of the corporate sector by using this model. This study used Z-Score model and Current Ratio to measure the Financial Failure of 22 selected Textile Industries of Pakistan. Results showed that Z-Score and current ratio are the good tools to assess the financial health of the textile companies listed in KSE. This study also revealed that financial distressed companies are also present in textile sector. Keywords: Z-Score, Current ratio, Paired Sample T-Test, Financial Failur

Comparison of Caralluma tuberculata with Metformin for Anti-Diabetic Activity: An Animal Study

Background: Caralluma tuberculata, is a wild herb, which grows in the hills of Balochistan and has been known to have medicinal and nutritional properties since antiquity. This experimental research was designed to study the hypoglycemic properties of Caralluma tuberculata and to compare them with Metformin.Material and Methods: This was a laboratory-based animal experimental study. It was conducted in the Pharmacology laboratory of Khyber Medical University, Peshawar from February 2016 to August 2016. Two types of extracts of Caralluma tuberculata [crude extract and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) extract] were prepared and administered to normal and alloxan treated diabetic rabbits. To study anti-diabetic activity, eighty-four rabbits were divided into two main groups. Group I (Normal/Non-Diabetic Rabbits; n= 21) and Group II (Diabetic/Alloxanized Rabbits; n=63). Each group was further divided into sub-groups (7 rabbits in each). Effect of Caralluma tuberculata, Metformin and 2% gum tragacanth on blood glucose levels were checked at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24 hours of drug administration. The extracts were given in capsule form and in cooking oil. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 16. For calculation and comparison of the hypoglycemic effects at various doses and different time intervals, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s post hoc test were applied.Results: The crude extract, 200mg/kg body weight of Caralluma tuberculata showed significant decrease (p<0.001) in mean blood glucose levels from 2-hour till12 hours. Whereas, highly significant reduction of blood glucose was seen from 2 hours after treatment till 24 hours, when carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) fraction of Caralluma (100mg/kg body weight) in capsule form was administered. Metformin 500mg/kg body weight was given to compare its effects with plant crude extract and it was found that metformin appeared to be less effective in comparison with Caralluma tuberculata.Conclusion: Caralluma tuberculata lowered the blood glucose level and turned out to be more significant in developing hypoglycemia when taken with cooking oil. More work is essential to provide stronger evidence for the use of this natural agent in the management of Diabetes Mellites

Irreversibilities in a triple diffusive flow in various porous cavities

Entropy generation minimization approach is a very good method allowing to analyze the engineering systems to exclude technical failure. The present study deals with computational analysis of triple diffusive flow, energy transference and entropy production in different porous cavities from square to triangular through trapezoidal shape. The formulated boundary-value problem has been worked out using the finite element technique and non-primitive variables. The developed computational code has been verified using numerical results of other researchers. Analysis of entropy production due to energy and mass transport, motion friction, and porous material has been performed for different chamber's shapes. Entropy generation analysis in chambers of various geometries under the triple-diffusive flow is a novelty of the present research, where different entropy production mechanisms have been scrutinized for one complex problem. It has been ascertained that average total entropy generation strength raises with buoyancy ratios, Lewis and Rayleigh numbers, but it has the minimum value for the square chamber in comparison with triangular and trapezoidal shapes. Moreover, obtained results characterize a neglecting influence of motion friction on the total entropy generation

Establishment of the Invasive Cactus Moth, \u3ci\u3eCactoblastis cactorum\u3c/i\u3e (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Pakistan: A Potential Threat to Cultivated, Ornamental and Wild \u3ci\u3eOpuntia\u3c/i\u3e spp. (Cactaceae)

Subsequent to the significant accomplishment of biological control of Opuntia weeds in Australia, the larvae of the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (native to parts of South America), were released in many countries for the biological control of native Opuntia species (Simmonds and Bennett, 1966). Inauspiciously, larvae were also released in the Caribbean, where the moth spread naturally and by the human support all over the region (García-Turudi et al., 1971). Its enhanced dissemination rate and the biological potential for invasiveness, suggests that the cactus moth is likely to become an invasive pest of Opuntia in the Southeast United States, Mexico, and southwestern America. Its damage is restricted mainly to the plants of genus Opuntia (plants with the characteristic of flat prickly pear pads of the former genus Platyopuntia, now considered to be the part of the genus Opuntia). In this region, plants of this genus provide valuable resources for humans, livestock, and wildlife such as food, medicine, and emergency fodder, while in the arid and semi-arid regions, the plants play key roles in ecosystem processes and soil conservation. At present, the cactus moth has developed into a severe threat to the high diversity of prickly pear cacti, all over the world for both the native and cultivated species of Opuntia (IAEA, 2002)

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Over-the-Counter Use of Ibuprofen and COVID-19 - A Controversy Resolved?

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Towards a Sustainable Future: Exploring the Role of Integrated Management Systems in Enhancing Export Competitiveness and Domestic Sales in Textile Industry

In today\u27s globalized industrial landscape, marked by fierce competition and evolving consumer preferences, the imperative of ensuring product quality, environmental sustainability, and occupational health and safety has intensified for firms operating in both domestic and international markets. Integrated Management Systems (IMS) transcend mere compliance, serving as a strategic framework for firms to fortify their environmental sustainability credentials and mitigate reputational risks effectively. By fostering environmentally friendly production practices, enhancing employee skills, reducing accidents, and enhancing institutional image, IMS drives competitiveness through continual enhancements in product quality, workforce capabilities, resource utilization, and waste reduction. This study investigates the transformative potential of IMS in stimulating export growth and domestic sales within Pakistan\u27s industrial sector. Utilizing panel data analysis of 94 textile firms spanning listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange from 2009 to 2022, the findings underscore the significant role of IMS in fostering export growth and improving environmental performance, highlighting its crucial contribution to achieving business success and broader societal and environmental objectives

Rapid quantification and comparison of major volatile compounds of ciders from France (Normandy and Brittany) using microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS)

International audienceMicroextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) was used for the determination of the volatile composition of 29 French cider samples from two regions: Normandy and Brittany. Extractions using a C18 sorbent were followed by GC-MS analyses for the identification of major volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and GC-FID analyses for the quantification of 19 selected major compounds. The method was found to be rapid and linear up to 300 mg L−1 for all compounds with an average relative standard deviation of 8.5% for tests of repeatability at low concentrations. The limit of detection (LOD) is below 0.1 mg L−1 except for three VOCs which exhibited much higher concentrations in samples. No significant difference in concentrations of higher alcohols were observed in the cider samples from two regions, however their concentrations were higher in hard ciders than sweet ciders. Acetates were found to be present more often in sweet ciders from Normandy than those from Brittany reflecting important differences in the yeasts acting during the fermentation