Mapping the Causal Connections among Exchange Rate Fluctuations and Agriculture Production: New Evidence from Pakistan Utilizing Cointegration Analysis

This study is the foreign exchange rate and export sector and impact on macroeconomics variables. The objective is to research the experiential association between the rate of exchange and the export sectors of Pakistan. The time series data has been used which covered 1980- 2020. In this study, we used three major sectors that have been selected for this research like the Agricultural sector as the dependent variable. Rate of exchange, foreign direct investment, rate of inflation, and interest rate are being used as explanatory variables in this study. For the long run and short run estimation among variables; we used the Auto regressive distributed lag model (ARDL). Likewise, Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) uses the estimation of the integration of order. According to long run findings of this study illustrated that model one, exchange rate is positive and significant. Foreign direct investment is both positive and significant, as is the money supply (M2). Trade openness is a positive and significant impact on agriculture. &nbsp

Data Mining For Marketing

This paper gives a brief insight about data mining, its process and the various techniques used for it in the field of marketing. Data mining is the process of extracting hidden valuable information from the data in given data sets .In this paper cross industry standard procedure for data mining is explained along with the various techniques used for it. With growing volume of data every day, the need for data mining in marketing is also increasing day by day. It is a powerful technology to help companies focus on the most important information in their data warehouses. Data mining is actually the process of collecting data from different sources and then interpreting it and finally converting it into useful information which helps in increasing the revenue, curtailing costs thereby providing a competitive edge to the organisation DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.15032

Gestational Weight Gain and Its Relation to Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Sequelae: A Future Dilemma

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to determine the frequency of women with gestational weight gain (GWG) from recommended values in pregnancy and to establish the association of GWG with the mode of delivery (vaginal delivery (VD), instrumental delivery(ID), cesarean section(CS) and neonatal outcomes( low birth weight (LBW), low APGAR score, macrosomia, stillbirth (SB) and neonatal intensive care unit admissions(NICU). METHODOLOGY The prospective study was done in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology LRH Peshawar. A total of 140 women were included in this study by non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Those with congenital anomalies having known medical disorders were excluded. Ethical approval and Informed consent were obtained before the examination. Data were collected and analysed on SPSS version 22.RESULTSThe mean age was 29.4 ± 5.1 years. The mean first trimester BMI of the study sample was 25.2 ± 3.4kg/m2, while the mean BMI in 3rd trimester was 27.7± 2.3 kg/m2. GWG was recorded in 52 (37.1%) women. The mean GWG was calculated to be 12.9 kg ± 2.5. Mode of delivery was VD in 60(42.9%) women, ID in 50 (35.7%), and CS was done in 30(21.4%0) women. LBW in 15(10.7%), low APGAR score was recorded in 32(22.9%), macrosomia in 14(10%), SB in 12 (8.6%) and NICU admission in 39(27.9%). CONCLUSION GWG is common in pregnant women; however, there was no statistically significant association between GWG and mode of delivery or neonatal outcomes.

Traumatic aortic transection repair with distal perfusion - Single center experience

Blunt aortic injury is associated with significant mortality. A large number of patients lose their lives before reaching the hospital, those who survive half die within a day. Isthmus is the commonest site of aortic injury. Aortic injury is usually associated with other injuries of the body hence a multidisciplinary approach is required. For aortic transection the treatment options have evolved from proximal and distal aortic cross clamping and repair with distal perfusion technique using shunt or partial heart bypass (extracorporeal circulation) to endovascular stenting depending upon the available facilities andexpertise. Distal perfusion technique helps in avoiding paraplegia. We present our institutional experience of polytrauma associated with blunt aortic injuries managed with open surgical repair with distal perfusion using cardiopulmonary bypass

Electrospun PVA/CuONPs/Bitter Gourd Nanofibers with Improved Cytocompatibility and Antibacterial Properties: Application as Antibacterial Wound Dressing

Antibacterial and cyto-compatible tricomponent composite electrospun nanofibers comprised of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), copper II oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs), and Momordica charantia (bitter gourd, MC) extract were examined for their potential application as an effective wound dressing. Metallic nanoparticles have a wide range of applications in biomedical engineering because of their excellent antibacterial properties; however, metallic NPs have some toxic effects as well. The green synthesis of nanoparticles is undergoing development with the goal of avoiding toxicity. The aim of adding Momordica charantia extract was to reduce the toxic effects of copper oxide nanoparticles as well as to impart antioxidant properties to electrospun nanofibers. Weight ratios of PVA and MC extract were kept constant while the concentration of copper oxide was optimized to obtain good antibacterial properties with reduced toxicity. Samples were characterized for their morphological properties, chemical interactions, crystalline structures, elemental analyses, antibacterial activity, cell adhesion, and toxicity. All samples were found to have uniform morphology without any bead formation, while an increase in diameters was observed as the CuO concentration was increased in nanofibers. All samples exhibited antibacterial properties; however, the sample with CuO concentration of 0.6% exhibited better antibacterial activity. It was also observed that nanofibrous mats exhibited excellent cytocompatibility with fibroblast (NIH3T3) cells. The mechanical properties of nanofibers were slightly improved due to the addition of nanoparticles. By considering the excellent results of nanofibrous mats, they can therefore be recommended for wound dressing applications

Sawdust amendment in agricultural and pasture soils can reduce iodine losses

Iodine loss is common in the soil of hilly regions due to higher precipitation rates and steeper slopes. Iodine deficiency in soil reduces iodine’s bioavailability to fruits and vegetables and consequently may contribute to health complications. However, the iodine retention of soils after the addition of selected organic and inorganic amendments has not been studied. Therefore, a study was carried out to investigate iodine loss during surface runoff. For this purpose, a soil amendment (namely, sawdust, charcoal, wood ash, lime or gypsum) was applied separately to pasture and agricultural soils under natural rainfall conditions. The soil was fertigated with iodine in the form of potassium iodide (KI) at the rate of 200 ppm. Surface runoff was related to soil properties. Results showed that iodine content in surface runoff was linearly related with soil pH (R2 = 0.89, p charcoal > wood ash > lime > gypsum. The study results indicated that organic amendments, especially sawdust, improved soil properties and increased the iodine retention capacity of soils

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

Devastating floods and period poverty: Leaving women exposed to severe health outcomes

Period poverty is the lack of access to menstrual supplies, hygiene education, and waste management which can lead to severe health outcomes. In developing countries like Pakistan, menstruation and menstrual practices still face many social, cultural, and religious restrictions, which form a barrier to menstrual hygiene management and creating awareness, especially in less privileged areas of the country. However, in the present condition of catastrophic floods in Pakistan that has affected 33 million people leaving 1 million homeless 1 has exposed women to more vulnerable sexual reproductive and health items. A survey which was held to check the resources used by women during current conditions of flood showed that women are using leaves, torn pieces of cloth, dirty rugs, and even cans instead of sanitary pads to manage their bleeding 2Moreover, food and water is given more priority over basic needs of women like sanitary pads, which are considered luxurious items. By reviewing the literature, we found that lack of menstrual hygiene is one of the main causes of lower reproductive tract infections that can lead to morbidity and severe health conditions.3 Another cross-sectional study also shows same results that the more women use these unhygienic methods to manage their bleeding the more they are exposed to the risk of lower reproductive tract infections4 In 2017, a similar UNICEF supported study conducted in Pakistan t showed that 49%of women in rural areas had no menstrual knowledge prior to their menarche and 44% didn’t have access to basic menstrual hygiene needs5 All the aforementioned studies raise the question: Is sanitary pads a luxury or a necessity? The circumstances caused by flood can be taken as an opportunity by the government to bring long-term changes by suggesting certain plans by to eradicate period poverty permanently from society. Lack of access to period products can occur mainly due to financial and physical barriers. The government should start an awareness program, and make the basic resources accessible at cheaper costs especially in less privileged and rural areas of the country that can also help to break the social taboo of not considering period products as important as food and water

Key Assessment Indicators of Infrastructure for the Sustainability of Economic Development: An Empirical Investigation of Pakistan

Purpose: This study addresses the linkage between the gross domestic product and infrastructure in Pakistan. The time frame taken for this study is from 1977-2019. The information utilized in this study is taken from reliable sources; World Bank. Methodology: ARDL method is utilized in this study with the assistance of E-VIEWS 10 programming. To consider the effect of infrastructure on GDP; the factors are utilized, for example, gross fixed capital formation, health expenditures, total generation age of power, life expectancy, and government expenditure on education. Findings: The consequences of this study show that the gross fixed capital formation, wellbeing consumption, and workforce have a positive connection to GDP. Then again, the total generation of electricity and government expenditures on schooling adversely affect the economy of Pakistan. The infrastructure is one of the principals and fundamental variables for the improvement of the economy of Pakistan. The helpless state of infrastructure in Pakistan is probably the greatest deterrent in the advancement of the country. The public authority should zero in on the upgrading of the approaches in regards to the infrastructure area. Implication: This study witnesses a positive link with the gross domestic product of Pakistan, this is the reason the government of Pakistan should work on the development of the labor force. For the development of the labor force, the government should organize training sessions, workshops, institutions for technical and vocational education, and many other projects

Unraveling the Diverse Roles of Neglected Genes Containing Domains of Unknown Function (DUFs): Progress and Perspective

Domain of unknown function (DUF) is a general term for many uncharacterized domains with two distinct features: relatively conservative amino acid sequence and unknown function of the domain. In the Pfam 35.0 database, 4795 (24%) gene families belong to the DUF type, yet, their functions remain to be explored. This review summarizes the characteristics of the DUF protein families and their functions in regulating plant growth and development, generating responses to biotic and abiotic stress, and other regulatory roles in plant life. Though very limited information is available about these proteins yet, by taking advantage of emerging omics and bioinformatic tools, functional studies of DUF proteins could be utilized in future molecular studies