Impact of Exports on Economic Growth- A Case of Luxemburg

The key purpose of this article is to analyze the significant impact of Exports, Government expenditures and Education expenditures on the economic growth of the developed economy of the Luxemburg, which is the member state of the EU: the biggest exporter in the world. The span of time is from the year 1975 to 2009 on yearly basis with total no. of observations of 35. Present analysis is based on the simple ordinary least square method to indentify the important linkage between the export and the growth considering the economy of Luxemburg. Experimental results reveal a significant positive relationship of exports, government spending, educational expenditure, on growth of the economy. Export shows that one unit increase in the export cause a positive change of .17 in the economic growth. In the same way government, exp. and education exp. show a coefficient of 2.67 and 9.93 with positive sign. This article identifies the association between the export and the economic growth with respect to Luxemburg

Two new Bacidina species (Lecanorales, Ascomycota) from Pakistan

Bacidina margallensis and B. iqbalii from Pakistan are described and illustrated. Phylogeny of ITS nrDNA region confirms their position within the genus Bacidina, and morphological data make them distinct from other known species of the genus. Based on molecular data, corticolous Bacidina margallensis appears to be a sister species to B. chloroticula, but morphologically, when dry, is the most similar to known from Europe B. mendax because of the granular and warted greenish grey thallus, whitish-cream to dark brown and often piebald apothecia. It differs from that species by shorter, wider and less septate ascospores; 1–3-septate in B. margallensis vs 3–5(6)-septate in B. mendax, and by unusual parrot-green colour of wet thallus. Saxicolous Bacidina iqbalii is closely related to B. neosquamulosa but differs in having crustaceous thallus, transculent when wet entirely pale apothecia, larger asci and less septate large ascospores

Total and Near Total Composite Lower Eyelid Defect Reconstruction with Glabella Flap: An Excellent Option with Limited Donor Site Availability

Background/Objective: Traumatic loss of the lower eye lid is usually combined with the paucity of adjacent flaps to reconstruct composite defects. We describe the use of Glabellar flaps with composite or cartilage graft to reconstruct total or near total composite lower eyelid defects and its outcome. Material and Methods: This case series was done from January 2017 to December 2019. Patients of either gender, with unilateral post traumatic partial or full thickness lower eyelid defect of 75% eyelid loss or more and Glabellar flap as only remaining option to reconstruct the anterior lamella were included. Patients with medial, lateral canthi, upper eyelid and injuries to orbital contents were excluded. The outcome was assessed on follow-up by the presence of epiphora, ectropion, lagophthalmos, obstruction of vision, graft infection/ extrusion, lower lid retraction, donor site scarring and the need for flap debulking. Results: 12 patients were operated for lower eyelid defects. 2 (16.7%) patients had total loss of eyelid, while 10 (83.3%) had near total loss, 7 (58.3%) patients presented with partial thickness loss of the eyelid, while rest presented with full thickness loss. 1 patient (8.3%) presented with epiphora, similarly 1 (8.3%) had obstruction of vision in down gaze and 1 (8.3%) had conjunctivitis. None had any other complaint. Conclusion: Glabellar flap together with composite or cartilage graft is an excellent option to reconstruct total or near total composite lower eyelid defects

Correlation of Atrial Fibrillation with Left Atrial Volume in Patients with Mitral Stenosis. a Single Centre Study From Pakistan

Background: Rheumatic heart disease has a strong association with mitral valve stenosis. Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common complications of this condition and is a poor prognostic factor. Early detection and prompt management of atrial fibrillation can help to improve the quality of life and increase the life expectancy of the patients. We carried out this study to investigate the significance of left atrial volumetric changes in mitral stenosis and its correlation with atrial fibrillation. Methodology: We audited the data of 60 patients of rheumatic heart disease who had mitral valve stenosis. The patients were randomized into atrial fibrillation (Group A) and normal sinus rhythm (Group B). We conducted this cross-sectional analytical study at Cardiology Department, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, from 1st February 2017 to 31st January 2018. We only included those patients who consented to be a part of this study and fulfilled our predefined inclusion criteria. Left atrial volume was measured by prolate ellipse method and biplane methods on echocardiography. The Data was analyzed on SPSS v20. Results: Sixty patients were included in the study. Among the subjects, thirty-six (60%) were males, and twenty-four (40%) were females. Atrial fibrillation was noted in 43.33% of the patients of mitral valve stenosis. There was a marked difference in the mean volume of the left atrium among the two groups. We observed that the mean area of the mitral valve for Group A patients was larger than that of patients in Group B. Our study showed an inverse correlation between left atrial volume and mitral valve area among Group A patients. Conclusion: Patients of mitral stenosis are at an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation if the left atrial volume is increasing. All patients with mitral stenosis should have routine echocardiography & measurement of left atrial volumes, so that proper treatment can be started if the left atrial volume is increasing, to prevent atrial fibrillation

Process Matching: Performance Trade-Off Between Summary and Full-Length Descriptions

Business process models are used by modeling experts to concisely depict the workflow of an organization that plays a pivotal role in the development of ERP systems. A growing number of organizations also maintain the textual process descriptions of these process models as the descriptions are understandable across the board. A recent study has revealed that these textual descriptions can also be used for an accurate process model search. However, the use of textual descriptions is a resource-intensive task due to the sheer size of the descriptions. To that end, in this paper, we have proposed an approach that relies on the use of summary textual descriptions, instead of full-length descriptions, to enhance the performance of process matching. To evaluate the proposed approach, we have used four diverse text summarization techniques, including a state-of-the-art deep learning based technique, for generating summary descriptions, and seven text-matching techniques for finding relevant process specifications. Our empirical study has established that the Vector Space Model is the most effective technique for process matching. Furthermore, the use of Lingo generated summaries, at a compression rate of 50 %, can achieve a higher efficiency as well as effectiveness than the full-length textual process descriptions

Spontaneous Ventral Spinal Epidural Hematoma in an Infant: An Unusual Presentation

How to Cite This Article: Abbad A, Afzal K, Mujeeb AA, Shahab T, Khalid M. Spontaneous Ventral Spinal Epidural Hematoma in an Infant: An Unusual Presentation. Iran J Child Neurol. 2013  Spring;7(2):47-50.Abstract Spontaneous ventral spinal epidural hematomas are extremely rare in children and clinically recognized by the appearance of acute asymmetric focal motor and sensory involvement. In infants, the initial presenting symptoms are very non-specific and irritability is often the only initial manifestation. Appearance of other neurological signs may be delayed up to hours or even days later. In the absence of significant precipitating factors such as severe trauma or previously known coagulopathies,the diagnosis is usually delayed until the full picture of severe cord compression is developed. The diagnosis is finally made by performing magnetic resonance imaging. We report a 5-month-old infant with spinal epidural hematoma who presented with symmetrical upper limb weakness and diaphragmatic involvement to highlight the importance of recognizing the atypical manifestations for early diagnosis andintervention. References:1. Phillips TW, Kling TF Jr, McGillicuddy JE. Spontaneous ventral spinal epidural hematoma with anterior cordsyndrome: report of a case. Neurosurgery 1981;9:440-3.2. Patel H, Boaz JC, Phillips JP, Garg BP. Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma in children. Pediatr Neurol1998;19:302-7. Review.3. Penar PL, Fischer DK, Goodrich I, Bloomgarden GM, Robinson F. Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma. IntSurg 1987;72:218-21.4. Noth I, Hutter JJ, Meltzer PS, Damiano ML, Carter LP. Spinal epidural hematoma in a hemophilic infant. Am JPediatr Hematol Oncol 1993;15:131-4. Review.5. Beatty RM, Winston KR. Spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma. A consideration of etiology. J Neurosurg1984;61:143-8.6. Alva NS. Traumatic spinal epidural hematoma of a 10-month-old male: a clinical note. Pediatr Neurol2000;23:88-9. Review.7. Aminoff MJ: Vascular disorders of the spinal cord, in Davidoff RA (ed): Handbook of the Spinal Cord.Infections and Cancer, Vol 5. New York: Marcel Dekker, 1986, pp 271-273.8. Blount J, Doughty K, Tubbs RS, Wellons JC, Reddy A, Law C, et al. In utero spontaneous cervical thoracicepidural hematoma imitating spinal cord birth injury. Pediatr Neurosurg 2004;40:23-7.9. Iguchi T, Ito Y, Asai M, Ito J, Okada N, Murakami M. [A case of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma]. No ToHattatsu 1993;25:267-70. Review. Japanese.10. Nagel MA, Taff IP, Cantos EL, Patel MP, Maytal J, Berman D. Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma in a7-year-old girl. Diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 1989;91:157-60.11. Metzger G, Singbartl G. Spinal epidural hematoma following epidural anesthesia versus spontaneous spinalsubdural hematoma. Two case reports. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 1991;35:105-7.12. Patel H, Garg BP. Increasing irritability with sudden onset of flaccid weakness. Semin Pediatr Neurol 1996;3:192-7.13. Tewari MK, Tripathi LN, Mathuriya SN, Khandelwal N, Kak VK. Spontaneous spinal extradural hematomain children. Report of three cases and a review of the literature. Childs Nerv Syst 1992;8:53-5. Review.14. Pecha MD, Able AC, Barber DB, Willingham AC. Outcome after spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma in children: case report and review of the literature. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1998;79:460-3. Review

Activity level predicts 6-minute walk distance in healthy older females: an observational study

Background: The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is frequently employed in clinical settings and academic studies. Few research has examined activity level as a 6MWD predictor, and current predictive models do not take activity level into account. The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is a simple tool for the evaluation of functional exercise capacity, which reflects the capacity of the individual to perform activities of daily living. Aims &Objectives: In a convenience sample of older females, the study's goal was to determine whether activity was a reliable predictor of 6MWD. To determine if adding activity level to current models for the 6MWT in healthy older women enhanced their prediction accuracy as well as to confirm the validity of such models. Material and Methods: In several regions of Punjab (Kamoke, Multan, and Okara), data from home visits were gathered for this observational study. The study's sample size of 30 healthy females was chosen using a convenience sampling technique from a group of healthy older non-smoking women who were both active and sedentary and had no lung or musculoskeletal conditions. The study's primary outcomes were measured, including age, height, weight, and 6MWD. Each subject filled out a consent form and signed it to indicate their understanding. This study demonstrated how important it is to consider physical activity levels when predicting 6MWD in older women. The statistical program for the social sciences (SPSS), version 2016, was used to analyze the data

Facilitators and barriers to NCD prevention in Pakistanis-invincibility or inevitability: a qualitative research study.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCD) are the leading causes of death globally. In Pakistan, they are among the top ten causes of mortality, especially in the productive age group (30–69 years). Evidence suggests that health perceptions and beliefs strongly influence the health behavior of an individual. We performed focus group interviews to delineate the same so as to design the user interface of a non-invasive stroke risk monitoring device. Methods: It was a qualitative study, designed to explore how health perceptions and beliefs influence behavior for NCD prevention. Four focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted with 30 stable participants who had diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, blood pressure, and stroke. The data was collected using a semi-structured interview guide designed to explore participants’ perceptions of their illnesses, self-management behaviors and factors affecting them. The interviews were transcribed and content analysis was done using steps of content analysis by Morse and Niehaus [10]. Results: Medication adherence, self-monitoring of blood sugars and blood pressures, and medical help seeking were the commonly performed self-management behaviors by the participants. Personal experience of illness, familial inheritance of disease, education and fear of premature death when life responsibilities were unfulfilled, emerged as strong facilitators of self-management behaviors. A sense of personal invincibility, Fatalism or inevitability, lack of personal threat realization, limited knowledge, inadequate health education, health care and financial constraints appeared as key barriers to the self-management of chronic disease in participants. Conclusions: Behavioural interventional messaging will have to engender a sense of personal vulnerability and yet empower self-efficacy solutions at the individual level to deal with both invincibility and inevitability barriers to adoption of healthy behavior

Some new lichen records from Pakistan

During a survey of the lichens in the state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, many specimens were collected from the Jhelum and Neelum valley and characterized using morpho-anatomical, molecular and chemical test methods. Two taxa new for Pakistan, i.e., Physciella chloanta and Xanthoparmelia protomatrae s. l., were found in the collection while Physconia enteroxantha represent range extensions within Pakistan. Morpho-anatomical descriptions, ecology and distribution are provided

Biosafety assessment of transgenic Bt cotton on model animals

Background: To know the effects of transgenic crops on soil microorganisms, animals and other expected hazards due to the introduction of GM crops into the environment is critical both scientifically and environmentally. The work was conducted to study the effect of insecticidal Bt protein on Rats and Earthworms.  Methods: For this purpose, animals like rat and soil organisms like Earthworm were selected. Rats were selected on the basis of its 95% homology on genomic, cellular and enzymatic level with human while earthworm were preferred on the basis of their direct contact with soil to evaluate the impact of Bt (Cry1AC) crop field soil on earthworm, secreted by root exudates of Bt cotton. Several physical, molecular, biochemical and histological analyses were performed on both Rats/Earthworms fed on standard diet (control group) as well containing Bt protein (experimental group).Results: Molecular analyses such as immune Dot blot, SDS-PAGE, ELISA and PCR, confirmed the absence of Cry1Ac protein in blood and urine samples of rats, which were fed with Bt protein in their diet. Furthermore, histological studies showed that there was no difference in cellular architecture in liver, heart, kidney and intestine of Bt and non-Bt diet fed rats. To see the effect of Bt on earthworm two different groups were studied, one with transgenic plant field soil supplemented with grinded leaves of cotton and second group with non-Bt field soil.Conclusions: No lethal effects of transgenic Bt protein on the survival of earthworm and rats were observed. Bradford assay, Dipstick assay ELISA demonstrated the absence of Cry1Ac protein in the mid-gut epithelial tissue of earthworm. The results of present study will be helpful in successful deployment and commercial release of genetically modified crop in Pakistan