Proximate Analysis of Holy Quran Recitations on Physiological, Psychological, and Neural Functioning in Muslims

In contemporary times, the increasing susceptibility to psychological disorders has prompted researchers to explore diverse approaches, encompassing both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. A notable trend among scholars involves investigating the efficacy of religious therapy, particularly the recitation of the Holy Quran, as a means to address these health issues. This review systematically assesses studies examining the impact of Holy Quran recitation on cardiac and mental performance, as well as psychological disorders such as anxiety, stress, depression, and labor pain. The cultural significance of the Holy Quran in Muslim societies underscores the relevance of this intervention. Through a systematic evaluation of relevant studies, a positive impact of Holy Quran recitation emerges, demonstrating improvements in cardiac and mental performance, as well as the alleviation of anxiety, stress, depression, and labor pain. Across all studies, statistically significant differences were noted between groups employing Holy Quran recitation therapy and those utilizing alternative interventions, supporting its confident use as a non-pharmacological remedy for health problems. While the positive effects are evident, implementation requires a robust methodology, emphasizing the need to delineate specific surahs for different diseases. This review contributes to the growing evidence supporting Holy Quran recitation therapy as a viable non-pharmacological intervention, highlighting the importance of future research to optimize its therapeutic application

How Consumer Confidence, Corruption and Credit Rating Effect the Exchange Rate: Emerging Market Perspective

The paper empirically examines whether the international rating influences the rate of exchange of an economy in the long run? The paper employs Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Bounds testing methodology on the exchange rate of China and contemporary international rating, using time series data from 1996Q1 to 2016Q4. The empirical analysis confirms the presence of a cointegration relationship between country rating and the exchange rate. To be more specific; corruption index, credit rating, and inflation are significantly and negatively cointegrated with the exchange rate of China. Conversely, consumer confidence is uncorrelated with the exchange rate over the long run. The paper focuses only on the exchange rate of CNY-USD; this may limit the generalizability of results for exchange rate with other nations. Nevertheless, the results add to the exchange rate determinants literature by including country-rating indicators in the analysis. Prior literature documents that there is some relationship between inflation and exchange rate. This research is novel in the application of robust ARDL and bounds testing to examine the long and short-run association of country rating of China with its exchange rate, after controlling for inflation

An updated review on anti-diabetic agents and their functions: a comparative study

Chronic metabolic disease is considered by a high concentration of glucose in the blood consequent from imperfections in insulin secretion or insulin action. Currently, it is rapidly becoming an epidemic in several nations around the world affecting millions of people. Hence, it is predicted that the number of affected may double in the next couple of years. This increase may be due to the rise in the aging population, adding to an already existing burden on healthcare providers, particularly in developing countries. Based on the unusual elevation of plasma glucose diabetes is divided into two main types, comprising type (1, 2) DM, gestational diabetes mellitus, neonatal diabetes, maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), and squeals induced by endocrinopathies, the consumption of steroids, along with other elements. T1 diabetes mellitus and T2 diabetes mellitus are considered inadequate insulin synthesis. Type 1 diabetes is a condition that usually affects young people, while type 2 diabetes is more common in older individuals who have unhealthy lifestyles. Both types of diabetes have different causes, symptoms, and treatments due to their distinct differences in how the body processes sugar. The aim of the present study is to learn more specifically pertaining to diabetes mellitus, its complications including clinical appearance, associated risk factors, anti-diabetic regime and its consequences at present

Negative Work Attitudes and Task Performance: Mediating Role of Knowledge Hiding and Moderating Role of Servant Leadership

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global crisis that particularly hit employment globally. Due to the economic crisis, many small businesses attempted to minimise their expenses by either closing or downsizing. During such organisational situations, the employees face negative workplace attitudes that lead to knowledge hiding and affect team performance. This study examines negative attitudes and their effect on team performance. Further, this study examines the mediating effect of knowledge hiding and moderating the role of servant leadership. Through a multi-time data collection approach, the authors obtained 363 responses from the education sector in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. PROCESS Hayes model 1 and 4 were used for mediation and moderation analysis. Results show that job insecurity, cynicism, and role stress are significant forces behind knowledge-hiding behaviour. Furthermore, the knowledge hiding behaviour adversely affects task performance. Servant leadership shows a buffering effect on knowledge hiding behaviour caused by negative workplace attitudes. This is one of the first studies in the South Asian environment to examine the association between employees’ negative attitudes and task performance using knowledge hiding as a mediator and servant leadership as a moderator in the COVID-19 scenario. Lastly, the paper concludes with a consideration of its theoretical, practical implication and future direction

Rational Use of Antibiotics and Requisition of Pharmacist

ABSTRACT Background: Direct consequence of microbes developing resistance against antibiotics is prolonged hospitalization, increased treatment cost and duration. Increased duration of hospitalization causes prolonged use antibiotics which results towards side effects. Primary Study Objective: The purpose of antibiotics use is either to kill the microbes (bactericidal) or slows down their growth (bacteriostatic). Irrational use of antibiotics makes them do their exact opposite. Instead of killing microbes or slowing down their growth, it allows microbes to develop resistance against antibiotics. Methods/Design: An observational concurrent study was performed in which data was collected. Individuals were interviewed using structured questionnaire. Percentage of rationality and irrationality of antibiotics use was observed. Additionally percentage of prescribed class of antibiotics was also observed in patients. Setting: Health care system includes: Quaid e Azam International Hospital Islamabad, Benazir Hospital Rawalpindi, CMH Rawalakot AJK, Amna Hospital Rawalakot AJK, DHQ Kotli AJK Pakistan. Participants: This study was conducted on 100 patients of different health care systems, to whom antibiotics were prescribed. Most patients interviewed were female with UTI aged above 30 and adults male with RTI or chest infection. Intervention: Different patients were interviewed in different hospital settings to evaluate the rational use of antibiotics Primary Outcome Measures: Rational use of antibiotics is using antibiotics according to the guidelines provided by WHO. Major guidelines include:  patient receives medication according to their clinical needs, dosage appropriate to the individual requirements and for specific duration of time with low cost. Results: 47 percent of these patients were using antibiotics rationally and 53 percent were taking antibiotics medication irrationally. The most prevalent form of irrational use was patients without counseling about the antibiotics use. Patients with poor knowledge about the use of antibiotics were 84 among the 100. Irrational use of antibiotics in the form of pre-mature discontinuation was reported 56 patients among the 100. Patient who irrationally use antibiotics as OTC or Self medications were 38 among the 100. Conclusion: Major form of irrationality found in the study was no proper counseling provided to the patients by specialist physician or Pharmacists. The reason we critically observed for this is the burden of patients on physicians due to which they are not able to properly guide patients. The community on which this study was conducted has a major absence of pharmacist. Dispensers and pharmacy technicians are performing pharmacist’s tasks. Absence of pharmacist leads to dosage dispensing errors, lack of professional medical counseling, and no drug utilization revie

A sensor placement approach using multi-objective hypergraph particle swarm optimization to improve effectiveness of structural health monitoring systems

In this paper, a novel Multi-Objective Hypergraph Particle Swarm Optimization (MOHGPSO) algorithm for structural health monitoring (SHM) systems is considered. This algorithm autonomously identifies the most relevant sensor placements in a combined fitness function without artificial intervention. The approach utilizes six established Optimal Sensor Placement (OSP) methods to generate a Pareto front, which is systematically analyzed and archived through Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) and Fuzzy Decision Making (FDM). This comprehensive analysis demonstrates the proposed approach’s superior performance in determining sensor placements, showcasing its adaptability to structural changes, enhancement of durability, and effective management of the life cycle of structures. Overall, this paper makes a significant contribution to engineering by leveraging advancements in sensor and information technologies to ensure essential infrastructure safety through SHM systems

The Spectrum of Oesophagal Varices, Portal Hypertensive Gastropathy and Child Pugh’s Class in Cirrhotic Patients at Tertiary CareHospital

Objective: To find the association of Child-Pugh’s Class with oesophagal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy in cirrhotic patients at CMH Lahore. Study Design: Cross sectional study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Gastroenterology and Department of Pathology, Combined Military Hospital Lahore Pakistan, from Feb to May 2021. Methodology: All patients with cirrhosis of the liver, irrespective of aetiology, who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, were included in the study. Lab data was retrieved from the Pathology Department to calculate Child Pugh’s score. Endoscopic findings of oesophagal varices and portal gastropathy were recorded and their correlation/association with Child-Pugh’s Class was calculated separately by using Pearson’s coefficient. Results: A total of 148 patients were included in the study. Male patients were 90(60.8%) and female were 58(39.2%). The age range was 27-85 years, with the mean of patients being 55.93±13.19 years. Association of Child Pugh’s Class with oesophagal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy revealed that higher grades of oesophagal varices (Grade-lll) and severe portal hypertensive gastropathy were found in Child Pugh’s Class-B (13.51%, 14.18%) and C (15.54%, 16.2%) as compared to Class- A (4.72 %, 1.35%). Child-Pugh’s Class positively correlates with both oesophagal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy by Pearson’s coefficient r=0.594 and 0.035, respectively; both have significant p values (p <0.05). Conclusion: Child-Pugh’s Class has a positive correlation with both oesophagal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy in patients with cirrhosi

Prognostic Factors for Decompressive Hemicraniectomy in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Patients with Traumatic Mass Lesions: A Prospective Experience from a Developing Country

Objective:&nbsp;&nbsp;To evaluate the prognostic factors affecting functional clinical outcomes in severe traumatic brain injury patients with traumatic mass lesions undergoing decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC). Materials and Methods:&nbsp;&nbsp;A prospective cohort of 85 patients of severe traumatic brain injury patients with traumatic mass lesions underwent a unilateral decompressive hemicraniectomy. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Glasgow Outcome Score at 28 days, 3 months, and 6 months. Bivariate analysis (chi-squared) was used to identify parameters that resulted in poor outcomes and multiple regression was used to identify independent factors predicting poor outcomes. Results:&nbsp;&nbsp;85 patients were recruited. Functional outcomes were dichotomised as favourable (Glasgow Outcome Score of 4 – 5) and poor (Glasgow Outcome Score 1-3) and evaluated at 28 days, 3 and 6 months. A total of 59 patients expired (69.4%). Bivariate analysis revealed GCS 3 – 5 at presentation (P = 0.002), midline shift greater than 7.5mm (P &lt; 0.001), the volume of the mass lesion more than 40ml (P = 0.006) resulted in a poor outcome. Age dichotomised to less than or more than 50 years bordered statistical significance (P = 0.063). Only GCS at presentation and midline shift were independent factors that predicted poor outcomes when controlling for covariates.&nbsp; Conclusion:&nbsp;&nbsp;Decompressive hemicraniectomy can be a lifesaving intervention in managing severe traumatic brain injury patients with traumatic mass lesions. However, its use needs to be employed judiciously.&nbsp

Exploring the potential of halotolerant bacteria from coastal regions to mitigate salinity stress in wheat: physiological, molecular, and biochemical insights

Salinity stress, a significant global abiotic stress, is caused by various factors such as irrigation with saline water, fertilizer overuse, and drought conditions, resulting in reduced agricultural production and sustainability. In this study, we investigated the use of halotolerant bacteria from coastal regions characterized by high salinity as a solution to address the major environmental challenge of salinity stress. To identify effective microbial strains, we isolated and characterized 81 halophilic bacteria from various sources, such as plants, rhizosphere, algae, lichen, sea sediments, and sea water. We screened these bacterial strains for their plant growth-promoting activities, such as indole acetic acid (IAA), phosphate solubilization, and siderophore production. Similarly, the evaluation of bacterial isolates through bioassay revealed that approximately 22% of the endophytic isolates and 14% of rhizospheric isolates exhibited a favorable influence on seed germination and seedling growth. Among the tested isolates, GREB3, GRRB3, and SPSB2 displayed a significant improvement in all growth parameters compared to the control. As a result, these three isolates were utilized to evaluate their efficacy in alleviating the negative impacts of salt stress (150 mM, 300 mM, and seawater (SW)) on the growth of wheat plants. The result showed that shoot length significantly increased in plants inoculated with bacterial isolates up to 15% (GREB3), 16% (GRRB3), and 24% (SPSB2), respectively, compared to the control. The SPSB2 strain was particularly effective in promoting plant growth and alleviating salt stress. All the isolates exhibited a more promotory effect on root length than shoot length. Under salt stress conditions, the GRRB3 strain significantly impacted root length, leading to a boost of up to 6%, 5%, and 3.8% at 150 mM, 300 mM, and seawater stress levels, respectively. The bacterial isolates also positively impacted the plant’s secondary metabolites and antioxidant enzymes. The study also identified the WDREB2 gene as highly upregulated under salt stress, whereas DREB6 was downregulated. These findings demonstrate the potential of beneficial microbes as a sustainable approach to mitigate salinity stress in agriculture

Electrochemical reduction of CO2: a review of cobalt based catalysts for carbon dioxide conversion to fuels

Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) provides a promising approach to curbing harmful emissions contributing to global warming. However, several challenges hinder the commercialization of this technology, including high overpotentials, electrode instability, and low Faradic efficiencies of desirable products. Several materials have been developed to overcome these challenges. This mini-review discusses the recent performance of various cobalt (Co) electrocatalysts, including Co-single atom, Co-multi metals, Co-complexes, Co-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), Co-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs), Co-nitrides, and Co-oxides. These materials are reviewed with respect to their stability of facilitating CO2 conversion to valuable products, and a summary of the current literature is highlighted, along with future perspectives for the development of efficient CO2RR