Tackling the failure of microfinance efforts through amalgamating microfinance with charity: two viable alternatives in the context of Pakistan

The drastic shift in the microfinance paradigm during the early 1990s, when the donor community adopted a new approach as to the sustainability of microfinance institutions, changed the overall scenario of the paradigm. Instead of providing subsidized financial services to microfinance institutions (MFIs) for their life time, the donors started emphasizing self-sustainability on the part of MFIs through making them adopt principles of commercialism. The shift in the donors’ approach, although relieved of their burden to a considerable extent, gave rise to an increase in the interest rates on loans for the poor. Many scholars considered it as a drift from the primary mission. This conceptual paper presents two viable alternatives which, through amalgamating microfinance and charity principles, can potentially help the sector achieve the dual objective of boosting the supply of subsidized financial resources to the sector and ensuring the poor’s access to an affordable source of financial help

Paradigm shift in the microfinance sector and its implications for theory development: empirical evidence from Pakistan

Financial and non-financial subsidized resources at the disposal of international donor agencies available for continued support of the microfinance sector are not unlimited. One of the strategies resorted to by the donor community to ensure supply of financial resources to the sector was to make it lucrative to private-sector investment. Thus, for more than a decade now, the donor community has been emphasizing profitability on the part of microfinance institutions to enable the sector to attract commercial capital. This move on the part of the donor community led microfinance institutions to adapt both functionally and structurally to better cope with donor’s expectations and show them profits. Many microfinance institutions set example of successful adaptation and reorientation of their tangible and intangible organizational elements to enable them to survive under these new conditions. Laughlin’s (1991) Model of Organizational Change provides a theoretical base for understanding such an organizational change in the light of changing external circumstances. While the Model placated all the relevant research questions, it did not fully explain all the trends observed in the empirical data collected for the study, which lent a room for development in the Model

Lepidium sativum Effects on Regulation of Reproduction, Hematological, and Metabolic Indices in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Lepidium sativum (LS) or Garden Cress (GC) is an erect, glabrous, annual herbaceous fast-growing edible plant, belonging to Brassicaceae family grows up to 15-45cm in height. Its easy cultivation and its tolerance to different environmental conditions gave it the ability to spread all around the world. Lepidium sativum (LS) seeds are consumed as part of regular diets and used in traditional medicine in many parts of the world to treat different kinds of ailments including hyperglycemia, fracture healing, diarrhea, hypertension, microbial infections, hepatoprotective activity, bronchial asthma, cancer and other disorders. To date, there has been no systematic study done to evaluate the potential effects of LS on reproduction, on GnRH pulsality or on the pulsatile or surge secretions of LH and FSH at brain level. Evidently, the reports from the studies have suggested conflicting results on the effect of LS on reproduction in female and male. LS possess anovulatory and abortifacient properties in females while aphrodisiac effect in males. Furthermore, like many herbs used in folkloric medicine, there is no information as to what constitutes pharmacologic inclusion level. The highest level of inclusion of LS seeds at 50% has shown lethal effects while 10% LS seed inclusion has shown ambiguous toxic and non-toxic effects. Therefore, the objectives of the study were to determine the effect of methanolic LS seed extract on the development and magnitude of pulsatile releases of GnRH, LH and FSH and secondly, to determine the acute and chronic effects of 15% LS seed supplementation on hematological and metabolic indices in the Sprague-Dawley rat. Twenty mature female rats were ovariectomized and implanted with estradiol -17β (OVEX+ E2) three weeks before euthanization using standard procedures. After three weeks of ovariectomy, rats were randomly assigned to either of 4 groups: Control (n = 5; 0mg/mL aCSF), Low group (n = 5; 10mg/mL LSE), Mid group (n = 5; 20mg/mL LSE), or High group (n = 5; 40mg/mL LSE). Rats were euthanized using an overdose of Tribromoethanol and both the hypothalamus and pituitary gland of each rat were harvested and perifused separately in artificial cerebrospinal fluid for six hours at a constant temperature of 37°C, and with 95% O2 and 5% CO2 aeration. Perifusates were collected at 7.5 minutes for a total of 5 hours consisting of a 120-minute baseline period followed by application of either aCSF or aCSF containing different concentrations of LSE and perifusate collection for 2 hours and finally administration of KCl to the hypothalamic explant or GnRH to the pituitary explant and a final perifusate collection for 60 minutes. LH and FSH concentrations were determined utilizing radioimmunoassay. LSE administration potently stimulated GnRH and gonadotropins secretions. There was no effect of LSE administration on the pulse frequency of GnRH, LH and FSH but LSE significantly increased GnRH pulse amplitude only. The GnRH, LH and FSH hormone secretions were pulsatile both in control and treated groups throughout the sampling period. Forty-eight male,7 to10 week old Sprague-Dawley rats were utilized for experiment 2 to determine the effect of LSSP on hematological and metabolic indices. Rats were acclimated to housing and feeding conditions for two weeks and then randomly sorted into either of two groups namely Control (0% LS seed inclusion; n = 24) or Treated (15% LS seed inclusion; n = 24) and fed throughout the 8-week duration of this study. Body weights of animals were recorded every other day. Every 2 weeks, 6 rats from each group were sacrificed and trunk blood samples were collected for hematological and metabolic indices determination. Ingestion of LSSP at 15% had no effect on red blood cells (RBC) count, hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). No significant effect of LSSP ingestion was observed on plasma glucose concentration or BUN was observed. However, plasma creatinine concentration decreased significantly (P \u3c 0.0001) overtime. LSSP ingestion for 8 but not for 6 weeks significantly (p = 0.045) reduced total protein and albumin levels but both short- and long-term LSSP ingestion reduced plasma globulin levels. There was no effect of LS supplementation on alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), although there was an insignificant increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level in LSE-fed rats in the short-term. Overall, irrespective of treatment, ALP levels were significantly higher (P = 0.005) after 8 weeks of either normal chow or LSSP feeding. Overall, results of our studies indicate the stimulatory effect of LSE administration on GnRH and gonadotropins secretion. There was no effect of LSE administration on the pulse frequency of GnRH, LH, and FSH but LSE significantly increased GnRH pulse amplitude only. Ingestion of LS seeds at a 15% level in the diet had no deleterious effects on hematological and metabolic indices in the rat

Recent advances in management of cerebrovascular diseases

A comprehensive approach to managing the vascular risk factors in both primary and secondary stroke prevention settings can lower the risk of first and recurrent stroke. Recent studies highlight the benefits of blood pressure treatment in the elderly, use of statins in healthy subjects with normal low-density lipoprotein levels, and comparison of various anti-platelet agents. For acute stroke the efficacy of thrombolysis beyond 3 hours has recently been shown

WTO’s Implications on Agriculture Sector in Pakistan: Threats, Opportunities and Possible Strategies

The WTO trading system is a fact of life. This is only organization which can manage the challenges of globalization. There are both opportunities and threats for the member states in relation to different sectors of economy like agriculture.  This paper examines that Pakistan has a great potential to produce and export agricultural commodities in the international markets.  In order to achieve maximum benefits from the WTO, Pakistan has to take strong and immediate steps in the light of SPS and TBT Agreement that are germane with agriculture sector.  In this connection Pakistan has achieved GSP+ status by European Union which gives a great opportunity to Pakistan to improve its agricultural standards and enhance its export in European agricultural markets.  The paper also recommends some possible solutions to improve the agriculture standards in Pakistan. In all countries farming system play a very important role for increasing crop production and strengthen the economy of the country. Government sector should also play a vital role to educate the farmers with new planting techniques and strategic plans for the production of good quality disease free crops. Based on results and conclusion development of extension program, utilization of proper management techniques, utilization of high quality seed, government support, infrastructure and market opportunities are the dire need for farmers and agriculture of Pakistan. 

Isolation of Caffeine from Carbonated Beverages

The work presented on the isolation of naturally occurring alkaloid from carbonated beverages. The extensive presence of caffeine in different plants plays an important role in the long-standing acceptance of caffeine-containing products. Caffeine (3,7-dihydro-1, 3,7-trimethyl-1H-purine-2,6-dione or 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is an alkaloid belongs to Methylxanthine family. Liquid-liquid extraction methods were used in the assay of research work. Chloroform was taken as extracting solvent. Solid residue of caffeine was recrystallized from 95% ethanol using 5ml/gram (5ml per gram). It is declared to raise caffeine, effects a number of different drugs include Paracetamol, Benzodiazepines and Aspirin and amount of plasma free Fatty acids increases. While inform that in regular sleeping interaction caffeine take place and raise the absorption of certain drugs. Changes in drug metabolizing enzymes, acts as an agent in a microsomal system of the body. The highest amount of caffeine dry crystal is extracted in sting sample while the 7up sample is free from caffeine

Production and optimization of Pectinase enzyme using Aspergillus niger strains in Solid State fermentation

Solid state fermentation was carried out with 4 fungal strains, obtained from different sources. Among 4 isolates Aspergillus niger, ATCC 16404 was found as effective pectinase producer. Maximum enzymatic activity (1.62 IU ml-1) was observed after 7 days incubation at 30‹C temperature in 250 ml Erlenmeyer conical flask. In this study 1% dextrose was used as arbon source, although citric acid as a carbon source showed better result (2.73 IU ml-1) but starch was not cost effective. As a substrate, combination of wheat bran and fresh mosambi, orange and lemon peel in ratio of 9:1:1:1 showed good result (5.38 IU ml-1) in solid state culture. Addition of 5% pectin was found to increase the enzyme production as (3.38 IU ml-1) Pectinase production was optimum in 65% moisture thus the wild strain Aspergillus niger ATCC16404 has outstanding pectinase producing capability at 30.C in 65% moisture content for 7 days of incubation in solid state fermentation

Combined effect of relief and level of expansion in a suddenly expanded flow

This paper presents the experimental results on the flow characteristics of a suddenly expanded flow from the convergent nozzle for subsonic, sonic and sonic under expanded flow. In the present study micro jets were used to investigate the effect of micro jets on base pressure flow field in the enlarged duct. Accordingly an active control in the form of four micro jets of 1 mm orifice diameter located at 900 intervals along a pitch circle diameter of 1.3 times the nozzle exit diameter in the base region was employed. The NPRs of the present study are 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 and the area ratio (ratio of area of suddenly expanded duct to nozzle exit area) studied were 2.4, 3.61, 4.84, and 6.25. The length-to-diameter (i.e. L/D) ratio of the sudden expansion duct was varied from 10 to 1. From the results, it is seen that the flow in the base region is dominated by the waves, the general perception what we have that correctly expanded flow will be from waves is proved to be wrong; also, it is found that for L/D in the range L/D = 4, 3 and 2 the flow remains oscillatory mostly for NPRs 2.5 and 3.0. However, these oscillations are suppressed either with the increase in the L/D ratio in the range from 3 to 10 or with decrease in the level of expansion NPRs from 2.5 to 1.5. The present study explicitly reveals that, the base pressure in a suddenly expanded axi-symmetric duct can be controlled by employing micro jets under the influence of favorable pressure gradient