Provincial Finance Commission: Options for Fiscal Transfers

The Provincial Finance Commissions were constituted in all four provinces of Pakistan in 2001. The Commissions were asked to formulate a formula for the distribution of resources among the districts in their respective province to ensure smooth functioning of the local governments and to minimise the poverty and income inequalities among the districts. This paper analyse to what extent the existing development transfers are based on the existing level of deprivation in the districts by looking at the Rank Correlation between them. This paper also runs different simulations to suggest different options for the provincial governments to improve the distribution formulas.

Provincial Finance Commission: Options for Fiscal Transfers

The Provincial Finance Commissions were constituted in all four provinces of Pakistan in 2001. The Commissions were asked to formulate a formula for the distribution of resources among the districts in their respective province. The formula includes both transfers- the development transfer and current transfers. The purposes of the current transfers are to ensure the maintainability of existing services at the districts level and of the development grants to minimise the intradistrict poverty and inter-districts income differential. In this paper we compute the Rank Correlation between the existing development grants transfer index and the deprivation index. This will help the policy-makers understood whether the transfers are fiscal need based or not? That is to highlight to what extent the existing development transfers are based on the existing level of deprivation in the districts. If not, then what can be done to make the transfers pro-poor. To assist the policy maker in this regards this study carried out a simulation when 50 percent transfers are based on population and 50 percent on deprivation. This simulation will provide sufficient range in which the policy maker can exercise their discretion to minimise poverty and at the same time provide resources to maintain existing infrastructure. The distribution of funds among the districts which is based only on expenditure needs of the districts cannot help address poverty issue. The provinces therefore, have to use different indicators in the formula of PFC Award to achieve both objectives

Inter-Governmental Funds Flows in Pakistan: Are they Reducing Poverty?

The purpose of this paper is to see whether any link can be found between the inter-governmental fiscal transfers and the deprivation index in the districts of Pakistan. The data for the study was collected from 98 districts of four provinces of Pakistan for the year 2003 and 2007. The results of the study shows the transfers have reduced deprivation across the board but unable to solve disparity issue. In fact the results show the extreme inequality (ratio of maximum to minimum) has increased over time but average disparity (coefficient of variation) gives mixed results. Keywords: Fiscal Federalism, Horizontal Inequity, Vertical Inequity, Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfer

Un análisis empírico de los factores que influyen en el emprendimiento social: Un enfoque de género

[EN] Purpose: This study examines how entrepreneurial ecosystem factors (entrepreneurial finance, entrepreneurial education, physical and commercial infrastructure, culture, and R&D transfer activities) shape social entrepreneurial activities (SEA) of men and women. Design/methodology/approach: Panel data from 35 countries are examined through General Methods of Moments (GMM) with Arellano Bond tests for the period of ten years (2005-2014). Findings: Our results indicate that women are more likely to get involved in creation of social ventures. Further, the selected six entrepreneurial factors modify SEA in a significantly different manner for both genders. Originality/value: Based on this analysis, this study is the first to provide deeper insights for improving the assessment of social entrepreneurial activities in efficiency and innovation driven economies within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.[ES] Finalidad: Este estudio examina el modo en que los factores del ecosistema empresarial (financiación empresarial, educación empresarial, infraestructura física y comercial, cultura y actividades de transferencia de I+D) dan forma a las actividades empresariales sociales (AES) de hombres y mujeres. Diseño/metodología/enfoque: Para un periodo de diez años (2005-2014) se examinan datos de panel de 35 países mediante los Métodos Generales de Momentos (GMM), empleando el test de Arellano Bond. Hallazgos: Nuestros resultados indican que las mujeres son más propensas a involucrarse en la creación de empresas sociales. Además, los seis factores empresariales seleccionados modifican las AES de una manera significativamente diferente para ambos géneros. Originalidad/valor: Sobre la base de este análisis, el presente estudio es el primero en ofrecer una visión más profunda para mejorar la evaluación de las actividades empresariales sociales en economías impulsadas por la eficiencia y la innovación dentro del ecosistema empresarial

Convergent synthesis of new N -substituted 2-{[5-(1H -indol-3-ylmethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]sulfanyl}acetamides as suitable therapeutic agents

A series of N-substituted 2-{[5-(1H-indol-3-ylmethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]sulfanyl}acetamides (8a-w) was synthesized in three steps. The first step involved the sequential conversion of 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)acetic acid (1) to ester (2) followed by hydrazide (3) formation and finally cyclization in the presence of CS2 and alcoholic KOH yielded 5-(1H-indole-3-yl-methyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiol (4). In the second step, aryl/aralkyl amines (5a-w) were reacted with 2-bromoacetyl bromide (6) in basic medium to yield 2-bromo-N-substituted acetamides (7a-w). In the third step, these electrophiles (7a-w) were reacted with 4 to afford the target compounds (8a-w). Structural elucidation of all the synthesized derivatives was done by 1H-NMR, IR and EI-MS spectral techniques. Moreover, they were screened for antibacterial and hemolytic activity. Enzyme inhibition activity was well supported by molecular docking results, for example, compound 8q exhibited better inhibitory potential against α-glucosidase, while 8g and 8b exhibited comparatively better inhibition against butyrylcholinesterase and lipoxygenase, respectively. Similarly, compounds 8b and 8c showed very good antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi, which was very close to that of ciprofloxacin, a standard antibiotic used in this study. 8c and 8l also showed very good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus as well. Almost all compounds showed very slight hemolytic activity, where 8p exhibited the least. Therefore, the molecules synthesized may have utility as suitable therapeutic agents.Uma série de acetamidas 2-{[5-(1H-indol-3-ilmetil)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-il]sulfanila} N-substituídas (8a-w) foi sintetizada em três fases. A primeira etapa envolveu a conversão sequencial de ácido 2-(1H-indol-3-il)acético (1) a éster (2), seguido por hidrazida (3) e, finalmente, a e ciclização na presença de CS2 e KOH alcoólico produziu 5-(1H-indol-3-il- metil)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-tiol (4). Na segunda etapa, aminas arílicas/aralquílicas(5a-w) reagiram com brometo de 2-bromoacetila (6​​), em meio básico, para se obter acetamidas 2-bromo-N-substituídas (7a-w). Na terceira etapa, estes eletrófilos (7a- w) reagiram com 4, para se obter os compostos alvo (8a-w). A elucidação estrutural de todos os derivados sintetizados foi realizada por 1H-NMR, IR e técnicas de espectrometria de EI-MS. Além disso, eles foram submetidos a triagem de atividade antibacteriana e hemolítica. Análise da inibição enzimática foi bem apoiada pelos resultados de docking molecular. Por exemplo, o composto 8q exibiu melhor potencial inibitório contra α-glicosidase, e os compostos 8g e 8b exibiram, comparativamente, melhor inibição contra butirilcolinesterase (BChE) elipoxigenase (LOX), respectivamente. Do mesmo modo os compostos 8b e 8c mostraram excelente potencial antibacteriano contra SalmonellaTyphi, semelhante ao do ciprofloxacino, antibiótico padrão usado neste estudo. Os compostos 8c e 8l também mostraram excelente potencial antibacteriano contra Staphylococcus aureus . Quase todos os compostos mostraram pequena atividade hemolítica, sendo que o composto 8p apresentou menor atividade. Assim, as moléculas sintetizadas podem ter a sua utilidade como agentes terapêuticos adequados

Effect of lecirelin acetate, hCG or progesterone administration on day 7 post-insemination on conception rate and progesterone concentration in cross-bred cattle

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of administration of lecirelin acetate, hCG and progesterone after AI on ovarian picture, serum progesterone concentrations and first service conception rate in cross-bred cattle. A total of 160 lactating cross bred (Friesian x Sahiwal) cattle were divided into 4 groups after AI. The groups were treated as follows: control (injected i.m with normal saline 2ml, n=40), d 7-LA (injected i.m with lecirelin acetate100 µg, n=40), d 7-hCG (injected with hCG 3300 IU, n=40) and d 7-P4 (injected i.m with Progesterone 0.5 mgdaily for 4 days, n=40) group. The hormonal treatments were given to animals on day 7 after AI. The ultrasonography and blood sampling was done before treatment and then 7 days later. All animals were examined for pregnancy through ultrasonography at 40 ± 1 day after AI. The diameter of SCL on 7 days after treatment was higher (P 4 treated cows did not differ from control cows. Formation of ACL was observed only in 50 % & 80 % cows in d 7-LA and d 7-hCG group respectively. No ACL was observed in control and d 7- P4 cattle on day 7 after treatment. The P4 concentrations were significantly higher (P 0.05) difference in FSCR was observed between control and d 7-P4 group. It was concluded that the use of hCG or LA, 7 days after AI is a beneficial tool to improve conception rate in cross-bred cattle whereas use of parental P4 post-breeding has no effect on SCL diameter and conception rate

Convergent synthesis of new N -substituted 2-{[5-(1H -indol-3-ylmethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]sulfanyl}acetamides as suitable therapeutic agents

abstract A series of N-substituted 2-{[5-(1H-indol-3-ylmethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]sulfanyl}acetamides (8a-w) was synthesized in three steps. The first step involved the sequential conversion of 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)acetic acid (1) to ester (2) followed by hydrazide (3) formation and finally cyclization in the presence of CS2 and alcoholic KOH yielded 5-(1H-indole-3-yl-methyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiol (4). In the second step, aryl/aralkyl amines (5a-w) were reacted with 2-bromoacetyl bromide (6) in basic medium to yield 2-bromo-N-substituted acetamides (7a-w). In the third step, these electrophiles (7a-w) were reacted with 4 to afford the target compounds (8a-w). Structural elucidation of all the synthesized derivatives was done by 1H-NMR, IR and EI-MS spectral techniques. Moreover, they were screened for antibacterial and hemolytic activity. Enzyme inhibition activity was well supported by molecular docking results, for example, compound 8q exhibited better inhibitory potential against α-glucosidase, while 8g and 8b exhibited comparatively better inhibition against butyrylcholinesterase and lipoxygenase, respectively. Similarly, compounds 8b and 8c showed very good antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi, which was very close to that of ciprofloxacin, a standard antibiotic used in this study. 8c and 8l also showed very good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus as well. Almost all compounds showed very slight hemolytic activity, where 8p exhibited the least. Therefore, the molecules synthesized may have utility as suitable therapeutic agents

Assessing the influence of the cultural perspective on cross cultural conflict: An analysis of cultural environment

Globalization has opened new doors of business opportunities for organizations, but at the same time it has transformed the working environment into a highly multicultural setup. Accordingly the issue of understanding and handling multi-culturalism effectively is gaining importance in organizations. The paper explores the influence of cultural intangibles in multicultural organization while highlighting a new role of "enhanced understanding of cultural diversity" that would reduce team conflict for better group performance. Mixed methods paradigm is used for developing a framework to analyze horizontal and vertical links and core factors contributing towards cross cultural conflicts in a multi-cultural environment. The sample consisted of 427 participants. The findings show that the potential for conflict is intrinsically embedded in multi-culture teams due to difference in cultural frame of reference used by corresponding individuals. The study further indicates that language compatibility, and misapprehensions of cultural differences are the main contributors towards conflict