Human Resources Practices Influence on Project Success: Case of Project- Based Construction Organizations in District Lahore, Punjab

This research aims to determine, hypothesize and theorize the significance of human resource management (HRM) practices towards project success and performance in the project-based construction businesses of district Lahore-Punjab-Pakistan. The effective HRM is considered as foundation of significant and supportable competitive power and pillar for the Construction organizations. It supports and leads to success of projects and business, however there is lack gap of extensive studies to fairly portray the conceptual model of HRM practices, staff and businesses and projects success relations specifically in the construction firms of district Lahore. The wide-ranging research works recognized the HRM-factors and project success association. After reviewing the extant literature on HRM and performance, different conceptualization has emerged. The most important with regards to HRM practices to understand the firms succeed in its goals and objectives of project success. The primary data obtained through self-administered questionnaire. Using random sampling, a sample of 150 survey questionnaires were distributed among the employees of construction firms and 130 valid survey form were returned. The statistical treatment on data set was carried out in SPSS. It is concluded that the HRM practices have positive impact on success of project in the firms. This research may significantly contribute to HRM framework tend to enhance project performance in the construction sector of Punjab-Pakistan

Non-specific immunity of BCG vaccine: A perspective of BCG immunotherapy

AbstractBCG is a widely used vaccine worldwide for neonates including Pakistan. BCG has more than 90% coverage through the EPI program which was introduced in 1965 in Pakistan. BCG has limited efficacy against the transmissible form of pulmonary tuberculosis in high TB endemic countries. However, BCG vaccination continues in these countries because BCG confers protection against the disseminated form of TB in children. BCG has also shown some protection against leprosy and certain forms of cancers. One reason for such nonspecific protection may be that BCG activates APCs via PAMPS that interacts with TLRs (2, 4 & 8), which initiate the inflammatory cascade thereby recruiting inflammatory cells to the site of infection and providing maturation signals for neutrophils, macrophages and dendritic cells. Such activation may be crucial for restricting the infection at the initial site. Furthermore, activation of the pro-inflammatory cascade also results in expression of adhesion molecules, co-stimulatory molecules as well as MHC class II molecule. MHC class II molecules engage CD4+ cells via the TCR receptor while the adhesion and costimulatory molecules bind to their respective receptors on CD4+ T cells for additional high affinity binding for T cell activation. Although activation of the innate arm may not provide subsequent memory, activation of T cells may introduce a certain level of memory response and therefore, may form a rational basis for BCG immunotherapy. This review, therefore, focuses on the immune activation related to both the innate and adaptive arm of the immune response that has been reported and further explores the utility of BCG immunotherapy related to non TB conditions

Instrumentació i procediments per a l'atenció primària del sistema visual en zones rurals dels païssos en desenvolupament

Objectius: Conèixer la importància i la necessitat de l’ajuda optomètrica en els països poc desenvolupats. Saber les deficiències i patologies que pateixen en aquestes zones. Elaborar un llistat de consells per prevenir i identificar aquestes diferents patologies a temps. Finalment, analitzar les alternatives als equips tradicionals que són molt costosos, voluminosos i pesats. Telemedicina: El desenvolupament de la intel·ligència artificial (IA) i l’ús de les noves tecnologies (ordinadors, internet, mòbils, etc.). permeten optimitzar l'atenció sanitària, estalviant temps i costos i augmentant l'accessibilitat a la salut visual. La Telemedicina està ajudant actualment a lluitar contra les barreres geogràfiques, permetent que la cura de la salut i el bon estat del sistema visual pugui arribar a tota la població, especialment en zones rurals i països en desenvolupament. Consells per a la prevenció de les patologies oculars: Els errors de refracció són la principal causa de discapacitat visual i ceguesa en molts països en desenvolupament. Es pot afrontar el problema formant més optometristes, infermeres oftàlmiques i oftalmòlegs. Els governs han de proporcionar la infraestructura necessària, facilitar un entorn sanitari segur, incrementar l’educació sanitària, i incentivar financerament l'accés als serveis d'atenció ocular. Conclusions: Els punts febles dels països en desenvolupament són la pobresa, la falta d’educació, la manca de recursos i la higiene insuficient. La intel·ligència artificial (IA) està donant un pas crucial que permet la comunicació necessària per donar suport a la Telemedicina. Amb l'ajuda de la telemedicina es poden comunicar els símptomes, molèsties i resultats de les proves dels pacients als metges en un temps molt curt que fa que l'ajuda sanitària sigui més eficaç.Objetivos: Conocer la importancia y necesidad de la ayuda optométrica en los países poco desarrollados. Saber las deficiencias y patologías que sufren en estas zonas. Elaborar un listado de consejos para prevenir e identificar estas patologías a tiempo. Por último, analizar las alternativas a los equipos tradicionales que son muy costosos, voluminosos y pesados.. Telemedicina: El desarrollo de la inteligencia artificial (IA) y el uso de las nuevas tecnologías (ordenadores, internet, móviles, etc.). permiten optimizar la atención sanitaria, ahorrando tiempo y costes y aumentando la accesibilidad a la salud visual. La Telemedicina está ayudando actualmente a luchar contra las barreras geográficas, permitiendo que el cuidado de la salud y el buen estado del sistema visual pueda llegar a toda la población, especialmente en zonas rurales y paises en desarrollo. Consejos para la prevención de las patologías oculares: Los errores de refracción son la principal causa de discapacidad visual y ceguera en muchos países en desarrollo. Se puede afrontar el problema formando a más optometristas, enfermeras oftálmicas y oftalmólogos. Los gobiernos deben proporcionar la infraestructura necesaria, facilitar un entorno sanitario seguro, incrementar la educación sanitaria, e incentivar financieramente el acceso a los servicios de atención ocular. Conclusiones: Los puntos débiles de los países en desarrollo son la pobreza, la falta de educación, la falta de recursos y la insuficiente higiene. La inteligencia artificial (IA) está dando un paso crucial que permite la comunicación necesaria para apoyar a la Telemedicina. Con la ayuda de la telemedicina pueden comunicarse los síntomas, molestias y resultados de las pruebas de los pacientes a los médicos en un tiempo muy corto que hace que la ayuda sanitaria sea más eficaz.Goals: To know the importance and need for optometric help in developing countries. To know the deficiencies and pathologies that people suffer in these areas. Prepare a list of tips to prevent and identify these pathologies in time. Finally, analyze the alternatives to traditional equipment that are very expensive, bulky and heavy. Telemedicine: The development of artificial intelligence (AI) and the use of new technologies (computers, internet, mobile phones, etc.) allow to optimize health care, saving time and costs and increasing accessibility to visual health. Telemedicine is currently helping to fight against geographical barriers, allowing health care and the good condition of the visual system to reach the entire population, especially in rural areas and developing countries. Tips for the prevention of eye pathologies: Refractive errors are the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in many developing countries. The problem can be addressed by training more optometrists, eye nurses and ophthalmologists. Governments must provide the necessary infrastructure, facilitate a safe health environment, increase health education, and financially incentivize access to eye care services. Conclusions: The weak points of developing countries are poverty, lack of education, lack of resources and insufficient hygiene. Artificial intelligence (AI) is taking a crucial step that enables the necessary communication to support Telemedicine. With the help of telemedicine, patients' symptoms, complaints, and test results can be communicated to doctors in a very short time, making healthcare more effective

Fungal Infections in Some Economically Important Freshwater Fishes

Aim of this study was to investigate fungal infections in four species of carps including goldfish, Carassius (C.) auratus L.; silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys (H.) molitrix Richardsons; rahu, Labeo (L.) rohita Hamilton and Ctenopharyngodon (C.) idella Valenciennes. Nine specimens of each species were studied for the presence of fungal infections. Infected fishes showed clinical signs such as fungal growth on skin, fins, eyes, eroded fins and scales, hemorrhages on body surface and abdominal distension. The specimens from infected organs of fish were inoculated on each, malt extract, Sabouraud dextrose and potato dextrose agars. The fungal colonies of white, black, green, grey and brown colors were observed in the agar plates. Slides were prepared and stained with 0.05% Trypan blue in lactophenol. C. auratus showed the highest infection rate (44.4%) followed by H. molitrix and L. rohita (11.1% each). Five fungal species viz. Aspergillus (33.3%), Penicillium (22.2%), Alternaria (27.7%), Blastomyces spp (11.1%) and Rhizopus (5.5%) were isolated. Posterior part of the fish had significantly (P=0.05) higher (62.5%) infection as compared to anterior part (37.5%). The caudal fin with 31.25% infection was the single most affected area. This study showed that most of the fungi isolated from fishes are considered as normal mycoflora, yet many fungi can cause natural infections in ponds and aquarium

Incomplete miscarriage during the first trimester: a comparison of indoor versus outdoor procedure

Introduction: Miscarriage is defined as the natural death of a fetus inside the uterus. To remove complete conception material after a miscarriage, vacuum aspiration or dilatation & curettage are methods to remove uterine contents. Controversies exist regarding both procedures. So we conducted this study to confirm the more successful method. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of manual vacuum aspiration versus traditional evacuation and curettage (E & C) among females presenting with incomplete miscarriage during the first trimester of pregnancy Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled trial was done at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Shalamar Hospital, Lahore for 6 months. Then the selected females were divided randomly into 2 equal groups. In group A, females had manual vacuum procedure while in group B, females had evacuation & curettage under general anesthesia. After 12 hours of the procedure, ultrasonography was done to confirm complete evacuation. Results: The mean age of the patients was 29.87 ± 6.71 years, the mean gestational age was 8.06 ± 2.82 weeks. The effectiveness was noted in 248 (91.85%) patients. Statistically, manual vacuum showed significantly more effective as compared to evacuation & curettage procedure in the management of incomplete miscarriage i.e. p-value = 0.008. Conclusion: It has been proved that manual vacuum aspiration is more effective than traditional evacuation & curettage in the management of incomplete miscarriage

Diagnostic Accuracy of Endovaginal Scan in Detection of Retained Products of Conception after Incomplete Abortion

Background : To determine diagnostic accuracy of Endo-vaginal Scan (EVS) in detection of retained products of conception (RPOC) in patients with incomplete abortion. Methods: In this prospective study 200 pregnant females, with gestational age <20 weeks and with persistent vaginal bleeding, diagnosed clinically with retained products of conception, were included. Endo-vaginal ultrasound scan pelvis was done in real time in axial and saggital planes. Imaging of the examination was directed towards evaluation of the uterus and any intrauterine contents. Endometrial thickness of >12mm on EVS was considered positive for diagnosis of RPOC which was later on confirmed with histopathology(HP) . Comparisons was then made between EVS and HP findings. Results: Mean age of selected patients was 30.8 years age ± 3.9 and mean gestational age 17.2 weeks ± 1.8 SD . Patients positive on EVS were 63.0% and patients positive on HP were 72.5%. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were found to be 71.7%, 60.0%, 82.5%, 44.6% and 68.5% respectively. Conclusion: Endovaginal ultrasonography allows detection of RPOC with reasonable accuracy