A quantile regression analysis of the conditional female wage distribution in post-apartheid South Africa

Includes bibliographical references.The democratisation of South Africa in 1994 brought about increased economic opportunity for labour market participants. The impact of democratisation on the labour market outcomes of both males and females of various races has been studied extensively in terms of mean earnings. However, because of the heterogenous distribution of South African labour force participants, a mean analysis is not sufficient. This paper investigates changes in the post-Apartheid conditional earnings distribution of women in South Africa of all races using conditional quantile regression analysis. Women are exclusively analysed because the labour market choices and constraints they face are unique. A two part model is estimated with the rest part correcting for sample selection into employment in a South African context. Then, quantile regression analysis is employed to parsimoniously describe the entire conditional wage distribution aiding the understanding of female labour force dynamics in South Africa. Individual data on the South African labour market from Statistics S.A is utilised for the analysis. White women are found to earn more than black and coloured women at all quantiles of the wage distribution conditional on education, skills level and sector of employment. Inequality is found to be increasing among women in higher skilled occupations. Women in lower skilled occupations have witnessed an increase in real wages at all quantiles of the conditional wage distribution

SMEs Exports are Influenced by Different Risk Factors: Empirical Study of Emerging Economy

Study intent to identify the direct (indirect) risk factors that can influence the export of medical instruments from SMEs sector of Pakistan by using the time series monthly data sample for a period of fifteen years that is from FY 2003 to FY 2017. Empirically a strong long term relation between the export of medical instruments with operational risk, market risk, export refinance schemes and steel prices are proven by Johansen co-integration. Study also establishes a direct positive relation of operational risk and market risk with the export of medical instruments as a result of Vector Error Correction Model

Microwave Assisted Preparation of Barium Doped Titania (Ba/TiO2) as Photoanode in Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

Pure TiO2 and barium (0.5 wt%) doped TiO2 (Ba/TiO2) nanostructures have been synthesized via facile microwave irradiation method. The pure anatase phase of synthesized photoactive material was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Ba doping in the TiO2 host structure influenced the optical band gap as confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy. The optical band gap increased from 3.21 eV for the TiO2 to 3.26 eV for Ba/TiO2. Morphological analysis of synthesized TiO2 and Ba/TiO2 was conducted using scanning electron microscopy. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the formation of Ba/TiO2 and no impurities were observed. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that the charge transfer resistance increased for Ba/TiO2, which reduced dark current creation in a dye-sensitized solar cell. The highest power conversion efficiency (3.24%) was achieved for Ba/TiO2 photoanode compared to 2.1% for a pure TiO2 photoanode-based device

Protection of Consumer’s Rights in Pakistan

This paper is based on a qualitative research study which paves the way for a number of empirical studies related to the awareness about the consumer’s rights in Pakistan. The prime objective behind conducting this study is to clarify the fact that the old doctrine of Caveat Emptor is not sufficient in current days. The markets are highly competitive with an ample consumer’s choice and they need a greater awareness how to protect their rights. The paper starts with an introduction explaining the background detail of consumer’s rights and liabilities. There is a problem statement with a null and alternate hypothesis. The procedure for getting the legal remedy is discussed in detail. The evidence is sought from the registered lawsuits filed by consumers primarilyKey words: consumer and consumer’s rights, importance of consumer protection, Consumer Laws in Pakistan. Legal procedure of filing a complaint. Getting a suitable remedy. Claiming damages in consumer’s courts. Obligations of manufacturers and service providers

Impact of Demographic Variables on Perceived Sources of Occupational Stress among Gomal University Teaching Staff

This study aims to indicate various sources of teaching stress among teaching staff in Gomal University with regard to 5 major groups of stressors to determine if gender difference existed in stress level of academic in the study variables. The major groups included classroom related difficulties, teaching load, student’s misbehavior, job /career problems and interpersonal relations. These groups of stressors were further elaborated in the list of 36 variables used in the instrument of study. The sample consists of 250 (210 males and 40 females) from the staff serving in different teaching departments staff. Questionnaire was used for data gathering. Findings reveal the results also indicated that male and female academic differed in perceived stress level in teaching. Recommendation made include making more funds available to academic staff for research and career development purposes. Keywords: Descriptive study, potential stressors, University teaching staff, career development, gender differences, impact of teacher’s demographics

Common Organisms causing surgical site infection(SSI) in Postoperative patients in a tertiary care Hospital

Objective: To investigate the types and frequency of organisms causing surgical site infections in postoperative patients and their association with other factors. Study Design: Cross-sectional Duration and Place of Study: Surgical Unit-II of –removed for blind review---and from 1st March 2021 – 31st July 2021. Patients and Methods: There were 391 surgeries in this study, but only 27 patients met the inclusion criteria. A diagnosis of SSI was based on specific parameters, including the detection of two or three cardinal signs of inflammation and the surgeon's confirmation of the diagnosis. This data was analyzed using IBM SPSS 23. Results: Among 391 patients, 242 had elective surgeries (male:female, 1.6:1), and 149 had emergency surgeries (male:female, 1:3.4). The mean length of stay for elective surgeries was 2.19 ± 1.8 days and 4.2 ± 3.7 days for emergency procedures. There were 98 abdominal procedures (65.77%) performed in emergency settings. Only 9 (3.71 %) elective procedures and 18 (12.08 %) emergency procedures reported surgical site infections. Escherichia coli was the most commonly isolated organism from SSI during the study. The rate of SSI in postoperative patients was 6.9%. There was a statistically significant association between SSI and type of surgery (p=0.002). The mean length of stay (LOS) was longer for patients with SSI (mean=12.5, p=.000).  Emergency cases had a longer LOS compared with elective cases (mean= 4.21 days vs 2.19 days, p=.000). Conclusion: According to our study, our unit's SSI were comparable to other developing countries. SSI are more frequent in emergency cases, men, and diabetics, and are the primary cause of longer hospital stays.  Keywords: Surgical Site Infection; E.Coli; Length of stay

Doppler Echocardiographic Diagnosis of a Rare Pentalogy of Fallot Having Penta-Cardiac Anomalies: A Case Report

An infant, showing peripheral cyanosis, was born after lower abdominal peripheral caesarian section of the pregnant women having TORCH positive test with the infection of Toxoplasma gondiiand Cytomegalovirus. She had three abortions prior to this pregnancy. Doppler echocardiography of the baby showed profound intracardiac defects. After birth, echocardiography was carried out for diagnosis of associated cardiac anomalies. Doppler echocardiography showed pentalogy of Fallot, and the present case represents the Pentalogy of Fallot having pulmonary atresia. The baby's heart anomalies were ASD (Atrial Septal Defect - 6 mm RT to LT Shunt), VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect - bidirectional shunt), PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus - filling both the pulmonary arteries), and Overriding of Aorta with pulmonary atresia. In conclusion, whenever the diagnosis pentalogy of fallot is suspected, a multidisciplinary approach is essential

Yield of Muscle Biopsy in Patients with Findings of Myopathy on Electrodiagnostic Testing

Background: The evaluation of neuromuscular diseases includes detailed clinical assessment, blood testing, electrodiagnostic studies (EDS), biopsy, and genetic tests. EDS alone cannot provide a specific diagnosis. Further testing in the form of genetic tests or muscle biopsy (MB) is required. Objective The objective of the study is to evaluate the yield of MB in patients with findings of myopathy on electrodiagnostic testing and assess the factors affecting an abnormal biopsy outcome. Methods: Electromyography (EMG)/nerve conduction studies (NCS) performed for suspected myopathy over 5 years from 2011 to 2016, at the neurophysiology department of a tertiary care center in Pakistan, were reviewed. Based on inclusion criteria, records of 58 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Results: After an EMG/NCS diagnosis of myopathy, the frequency of MB testing was only 10.1%. The median age of patients was 26.5 years. The clinically suspected diagnosis was categorized into hereditary myopathy (n = 15, 25.9%) and acquired myopathy (n = 18, 31%). The positive predictive value of EMG is 77.2%. Twenty-eight (48.2%) patients had abnormal MB whereas 20 (34.4%) revealed normal findings. Factors significantly influencing an abnormal outcome of biopsy included moderate-to-severe elevation of creatine kinase (\u3e2,000 U/L),presence of denervation changes, and severe myopathy on EMG. Conclusion: Even though the overall yield of MB testing may not be very high in our setting due to the unavailability of special techniques and expertise, certain factors can help to improve the diagnostic yield. Clinicians should encourage MB testing, especially in cases with strong clinical, laboratory and electrodiagnostic suspicion, and absence of genetic testing for suspected myopathy

Metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetes: comparison of WHO, modified ATPIII & IDF criteria

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetes according to three commonly used operational definitions {World Health Organization (WHO), National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP ATP III) and International Diabetes Federation( IDF)}. To evaluate the agreement between these classifications in the Pakistani cohort. METHODS: Data was collected retrospectively of 210 patients with type 2 diabetes visiting outpatient clinics of one of the large tertiary care hospitals at Karachi, Pakistan between June 2008 to November 2008. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was found to be 81.4% (WHO), 86.7 % (IDF) and 91.9 % (NCEP ATPIII). The degree of agreement (kappa statistic) was found to be highest among IDF & NCEP ATPIII (0.728) as compared to (0.436 & 0.417) between WHO & ATP and WHO & IDF respectively. The most significant predictors for metabolic syndrome were found out to be female gender OR= 8.74 95% CI 1.51-50.53, low HDL cholesterol levels OR = 0.89 95% CI 0.84-0.94 and high systolic blood pressure OR= 1.06 95% CI 1.009-1.11. CONCLUSION: Our study results suggested that NCEP ATPIII and IDF are the most reliable criteria for diagnosing metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetic patients, with NECP capturing more patients in comparison to IDF definition. The alarmingly high frequency of metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetes found in this study suggests that primary prevention strategies should be initiated earlier and early in this ethnic group and our health care system should be geared up to cope with this deadly quartet