A STUDY REGARDING THE COPING STRATEGIES OF STRESS AMONG COLLEGE PLAYERS IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA- PAKISTAN

There is wide recognition that stress has close association with sports and subsequently with athletes and players. This very fact formulated the basis to investigate the “Coping strategies of stress adopted by College players of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”. For the purpose literature and related researches were reviewed and descriptive, quantitative, and non-contrived survey was conducted. All college players of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were the population of the study in which a sample of 490 was drawn having 50% male and 50% female subjects. A research tool-questionnaire was developed and pilot tested having Cronbach alpha value as 0.87. The data was collected in person and analyzed through SPSS. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. The data analysis revealed that college players use different strategies to manage their stress such as keeping busy in physical activities, warm up exercises, taking up long breathing exercise and talking to team mates. The responses of male and female college players were compared and their expression regarding coping mechanism was almost similar. On the bases of conclusions of the study, it is proposed that proper guidance and counseling services can make beneficial contribution in order to overcome or minimize the stress and to enhance their performance

Barley-Based cropping systems and weed control strategies influence weed infestation, soil properties and barley productivity

Barley-based cropping systems (BCS) alter barley production by influencing weed infestation rates and soil nutrient dynamics. This two-year field study evaluated the interactive effects of five BCS and five weed control strategies (WCS) on soil properties and the growth and yield of barley. Barley was planted in five different cropping systems, i.e., fallow-barley (FB), maize-barley (MaB), cotton-barley (CB), mungbean-barley (MuB) and sorghum-barley (SB). Similarly, five different WCS, weed-free (control, WF), weedy-check (control, WC), false seedbeds (FS), chemical control (CC) and use of allelopathic water extracts (AWE), were included in the study. The SB system had the highest soil bulk density (1.48 and 1.47 g cm−3 during the period 2017–2018 and 2018–2019, respectively) and lowest total soil porosity (41.40 and 41.07% during the period 2017–2018 and 2018–2019, respectively). However, WCS remained non-significant for bulk density and total soil porosity during both years of the study. Barley with WF had a higher leaf area index (5.28 and 4.75) and specific leaf area (65.5 and 64.9 cm−2 g−1) compared with barley grown under WC. The MuB system under WC had the highest values of extractable NH4-N (5.42 and 5.58 mg kg−1), NO3-N (5.79 and 5.93 mg kg−1), P (19.9 and 19.5 mg kg−1), and K (195.6 and 194.3 mg kg−1) with statistically similar NO3-N in the MaB system under WC and extractable K in the MuB system under FS. Grain yield ranged between 2.8–3.2 and 2.9–3.3 t ha−1 during the period 2017–2018 and 2018–2019, respectively, among different WCS. Similarly, grain yield ranged between 2.9–3.2 and 3.0–3.2 t ha−1 during the period 2017–2018 and 2018–2019, respectively, within different BCS. Among WCS, the highest grain yield (3.29 and 3.32 t ha−1) along with yield-related traits of barley were in WF as compared to WC. Overall, MuB system recorded better yield and yield-related traits, whereas the lowest values of these traits were recorded for FB systems. In conclusion, the MuB system with WF improved soil characteristics and barley yield over other cropping systems. The AWE significantly suppressed weeds and was equally effective as the chemical control. Therefore, MuB and AWE could be used to improve barley productivity and suppress weeds infestation

Design of a Finger Ring Antenna for Wireless Sensor Networks

Body-centric communications have become very active area of research due to ever-growing demand of portability. Advanced applications such as; health monitoring, tele-medicine, identification systems, performance monitoring of athletes, defence systems and personal entertainment are adding to its popularity. In this paper, a novel wearable antenna radiating at 5 GHz for the body-centric wireless sensor networks has been presented. The antenna consists of a conventional microstrip patch mounted on a gold base and could be worn in a finger like a ring. CST Microwave Studio is used for modelling, simulation and optimisation of the antenna. The simulated results show that the proposed antenna has a -10 dB bandwidth of 90.3 MHz with peak gain of 6.9 dBi. Good performance in terms of bandwidth, directivity, gain, return loss and radiation characteristics, along with a miniaturised form factor makes it a very well suited candidate for the body-worn wireless sensor applications

Association of Acne with Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance in Young Men

Objective: To study the association of acne with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in young men. Study Design: A Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of  Dermatology Services Hospital, Lahore. From January 5, 2016 to January 5, 2018. Methodology: A total of 158 patients were selected for study. Age, weight, height, waist, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, serum HDL-C levels, serum triglycerides, fasting blood glucose, fasting plasma insulin, and HOMA-IR score were documented in each patient. Student t-test was applied to compare these variables between cases and controls; and ANOVA test was applied to compare among the acne severity groups. Patients having metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance were compared by applying chi-square test. The data was analyzed by using SPSS v.23 software, considering p≤0.05 statistically significant. Results: Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures, fasting blood glucose and HOMA-IR score of the cases were significantly high when compared with controls (p-value .015, .002, .022 and .040, respectively). The frequency of metabolic syndrome was 26.58% in the cases and 8.86% of the controls (p=0.004); and of Insulin resistance was 27.85% in cases, while 11.39% in controls (p=0.008). The differences were statistically significant. The difference of systolic and diastolic blood pressures was statistically different in four acne severity groups (p-value .024 and .015, respectively), with systolic blood pressure being the lowest and diastolic blood pressure being the highest in mild acne group. Conclusion: The observations of our study concluded that post-pubertal males with acne are at higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance when compared with the normal population. Keywords: Acne, Metabolic syndrome, Insulin Resistance, Blood pressur

The impact of different weed management systems on weed flora and dry biomass production of barley grown under various barley-based cropping systems

Weeds are among the major issues responsible for reduction in yield and profit in any crop production system. Herbicides are the easiest and quickest solution of weeds; however, their frequent use exert negative consequences on environment, human health, and results in the evolution of herbicide-resistant weed species. Due to these reasons, alternative weed management methods that are less harmful to environment and human health are needed. This two-year study evaluated the impact of different weed management options, i.e., false seedbed (FS), allelopathic water extracts (AWE), chemical control (CC), weed-free (WF) weedy-check (WC) on weed spectrum in various barley-based cropping systems, i.e., fallow-barley (FB), maize-barley (MB), cotton-barley (CB), mungbean-barley (M*B), and sorghum-barley (SB). Data relating to density, diversity, and biomass production of weed species prevailing in the studied cropping systems were recorded. Interactive effect of weed management methods and barley-based cropping systems significantly altered weed diversity, and densities of individual, broadleaved, and grassy weeds. A total 13 weed species (ten broadleaved and three grass) were recorded during both years of study. The highest dry biomass, diversity, and density of individual, broadleaved, and grassy weeds were noted in WC treatment, whereas WF treatment resulted in the lowest values of these traits. Chemical control resulted in the highest suppression of weed flora and improved dry biomass production of barley followed by AWE. The SB cropping system with CC or AWE resulted in the least weed flora. The M*B cropping system with CC or AWE produced the highest dry biomass of barley. It is concluded that including sorghum crop in rotation and applying AWE could suppress weeds comparable to herbicides. Similarly, including mungbean in rotation and applying AWE could increase dry biomass production of barley. In conclusion, herbicides can be replaced with an eco-friendly approach, i.e., allelopathy and inclusion of sorghum crop could be helpful in suppressing weed flora

Working Capital Management and Firm Performance: Evidence from Pakistan

Study analyzes the effect of the proper management of working capital on financial performance of cement sector in Pakistan. The sample period of the study is five years i-e from 2007 to 2011. The data was taken from dissimilar sources that used in this study from Karachi Stock Exchange, Published reports of SBP and respected firm site. The dependent variable of the study is Return on assets which is used as a proxy for firm financial performance.  There are independent variables are account receivable in days, inventory turnover in days, (CCC) and payable turnover in days. Panal Data methodology used to analyze the impact of Working Capital Management on performance or profitability of Cement sector. Results derived that CCC, Net Trading Cycle, Number of Days  Receivable has strongly positive relation with performance and these are significant whereas,  Number of Days Inventory turnover and Number of days payable turnover in Days have negative relation with firm performance and is insignificant. Keywords: Cash Conversion Cycle, Net Trade Cycle, Receivable Turnover in Days, Inventory Turnover in Days & Payable Turnover in Days

Osmopriming combined with Boron-Tolerant Bacteria (Bacillus sp. MN54) improved the productivity of Desi Chickpea under rainfed and irrigated conditions

Chickpeas are rich source of protein and predominantly grown in boron (B)-deficient sandy-loam soils in Pakistan. Boron-tolerant bacteria (BTB) could tolerate higher B levels in soil and increase B availability to the plants. Field trials were conducted under irrigated (district Layyah) and rainfed (district Chakwal) conditions to evaluate the interactive effects of pre-optimized B application methods and BTB (Bacillus sp. MN54) on the nodule’s population, grain quality, productivity, and grain-B concentration in desi chickpea during 2019–2020 and 2020–2021. Boron was applied as soil application (1 kg B ha−1), foliar application (0.025% B), osmopriming (0.001% B), and seed coating (1.5 g B kg−1 seed) with or without BTB inoculation. Untreated seeds receiving no B through any of the methods were regarded as control. The individual and interactive effects (up to three-way interaction of location × BTB inoculation × B application methods) of year, location, B application methods and BTB inoculation significantly altered the growth and yield-related traits of desi chickpea. The four-way interaction of year × location × BTB inoculation × B application methods was non-significant for all recorded growth and yield-related traits. Regarding individual effects, the higher values of growth and yield-related traits were noted for 2020–2021, rainfed location, BTB inoculation and B application through seed priming. Similarly, in two-way interactions 2020–2021 with rainfed location and BTB inoculation, rainfed location with BTB inoculation and osmopriming and osmopriming with BTB inoculation recorded higher values of the growth and yield-related traits. Osmopriming combined with BTB inoculation significantly improved dry matter accumulation and leaf area index in both locations. Boron application through all the methods significantly improved grain quality, yield grain B concentration. The highest grain and biological yields, and nodules’ population were recorded with osmopriming followed by soil application of B combined with BTB inoculation. The highest plant B concentration (75.05%) was recorded with foliar application of B followed by osmopriming (68.73%) combined with BTB inoculation. Moreover, the highest economic returns (USD 2068.5 ha−1) and benefit–cost ratio (3.7%) were recorded with osmopriming + BTB inoculation in 2020–2021 under rainfed conditions. Overall, B application through osmopriming and soil application combined with BTB inoculation could be used to increase productivity and profitability of desi chickpea, whereas foliar application is a better method to enhance grain and plant B concentration

Determinant of Inflation in Pakistan: An Econometrics Analysis, Using Johansen Co Integration Approach

The main object behind the study is to explore the long run and short run dynamics of inflation in case of Pakistan. For this purpose study used annual data 1971 to 2012. Johansen co integration approach is used to check long run equilibrium while ECM (Error Correction Model) is used to check short run dynamics. The result highlighted GDP, M2, energy crises, import and current government expenditure, output gap and adaptive expectation create inflation while development expenditure negatively corrected with inflation. The study concluded that in Pakistan demand side and supply side inflation persist. Key Word: Inflation, Long run and Short ru