Determinants of Neonatal and Post-neonatal Mortality in Pakistan

Ensuring the survival and well being of children is a concern of families, communities and nations throughout the world. Since the turn of the 20th century infant and child mortality in more developed countries has steadily declined and, currently, has been reduced to almost minimal levels. In contrast, although infant and child mortality has declined in the past three decades in most less developed countries, the pace of change and the magnitude of improvement vary considerably from one country to another. The inverse relationship between socio-economic variables of the parents and infant and child mortality is well established by several studies [Muhuri (1995); Forste (1994); Hobcraft, et al. (1984); Caldwell (1979); Sathar (1985, 1987)] and it holds true irrespective of the overall level of mortality in the national populations [Ruzicka (1989)]. The influence of parental education on infant and child health and mortality has proved to be universally significant [Bicego and Boerma (1993); Caldwell, et al. (1990)]. The father’s education, mother’s education and their work status each have independent effects upon child survival in developing countries [Sandiford, et al. (1995); Forste (1994); Caldwell, et al. (1983)]. Economic conditions of the household also help in explaining the variation in infant and child mortality. The nature of housing, diet, access to and availability of water and sanitary conditions as well as medical attention all depend on the economic conditions of the household. For example, poor families may reside in crowded, unhygienic housing and, thus, suffer from infectious disease associated with inadequate and contaminated water supplies and with poor sanitation [Esrey and Habicht (1986)]. Maternal factors, which are biological attributes of birth, such as the age of mother at the time of childbirth, birth order and birth interval [Forste (1994); Rutstein (1984)], have significant effects on child survival.

Determinants of Neonatal and Post-neonatal Mortality in Pakistan

Ensuring the survival and well being of children is a concern of families, communities and nations throughout the world. Since the turn of the 20th century infant and child mortality in more developed countries has steadily declined and, currently, has been reduced to almost minimal levels. In contrast, although infant and child mortality has declined in the past three decades in most less developed countries, the pace of change and the magnitude of improvement vary considerably from one country to another. The inverse relationship between socio-economic variables of the parents and infant and child mortality is well established by several studies [Muhuri (1995); Forste (1994); Hobcraft, et al. (1984); Caldwell (1979); Sathar (1985, 1987)] and it holds true irrespective of the overall level of mortality in the national populations [Ruzicka (1989)]. The influence of parental education on infant and child health and mortality has proved to be universally significant [Bicego and Boerma (1993); Caldwell, et al. (1990)]. The father’s education, mother’s education and their work status each have independent effects upon child survival in developing countries [Sandiford, et al. (1995); Forste (1994); Caldwell, et al. (1983)]. Economic conditions of the household also help in explaining the variation in infant and child mortality. The nature of housing, diet, access to and availability of water and sanitary conditions as well as medical attention all depend on the economic conditions of the household. For example, poor families may reside in crowded, unhygienic housing and, thus, suffer from infectious disease associated with inadequate and contaminated water supplies and with poor sanitation [Esrey and Habicht (1986)]

Determinants of Growth Retardation in Pakistani Children under Five Years of Age

Ensuring the survival and well being of children is a concern of families, communities, and nations throughout the world. Since the turn of the 20th century infant and child mortality in more developed countries has steadily declined and, currently, has been reduced to almost minimal levels. In contrast, although infant and child mortality has declined in the past three decades in most less developed countries, the pace of change and the magnitude of improvement vary considerably from one country to another. Children are at risk of both mortality and morbidity. The problem of malnutrition is widespread in developing countries and particularly severe in South Asian countries, where almost fifty percent of the undernourished children of the world live [Carlson and Wardlaw (1990)]. Rural populations are especially prone to malnutrition because they are more likely to be poor [Tinger (1998)]. The analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) in 19 developing countries shows that children living in rural areas are more likely to be malnourished [Sommerfelt and Stewart (1994)]

Marital Adjustment And Life Satisfaction Among Early And Late Marriages

The current research focused on exploring the relationship of marital adjustment and life satisfaction among early and late marriages. Main objective of the study was to find out the effect of age on marital adjustment and life satisfaction among early and late marriages. The Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) Urdu (Spanier, 1976) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) (Diener, Emmons, Larsen & Griffin, 1985) were used to measure the phenomenon of marital adjustment and life satisfaction. The sample was comprised of (N=160) early and late married, men and women. Early married (n=80) and late married (n=80) selected from different cities of Punjab, Pakistan. Pearson Product Moment Correlation and t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results indicate a significant positive correlation (r= .33, significant at p .01) in marital adjustment and life satisfaction. On the other hand there is a significant difference (significant at p .001) between late marriages and early marriages on marital adjustment. The results also indicate that there is a significant difference (significant at p .001) between late marriages and early marriages on life satisfaction. Key Words: Marital adjustment, life satisfaction, early married, late marrie

Structural and spectroscopic analysis of wurtzite (ZnO)1−x(Sb2O3)x composite semiconductor

Abstract The structural, vibrational and impedance analysis for (ZnO) 1− x (Sb 2 O 3 ) x composite synthesized by solid state reaction technique were carried out in the present investigation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) study showed that (ZnO) 1− x (Sb 2 O 3 ) x composite has hexagonal (wurtzite) crystal structure. Variation in lattice constants with Sb-doping indicated the proper incorporation of Sb dopant in ZnO host matrix. The results of Raman spectroscopy test suggested the signature of E 2 (high) and E 1 (TO) Raman modes, and verified the wurtzite structure of (ZnO) 1− x (Sb 2 O 3 ) x composite. Two additional phonon bands (671, 712) cm −1 appeared in Raman spectra of composite samples due to the existence of the lattice defects caused by Sb doping or may be other intrinsic lattice defects formed during the synthesis of (ZnO) 1− x (Sb 2 O 3 ) x composite. The frequency dependent on the electrical characteristics, such as, impedance ( Z ), dielectric constant ( e ) and AC conductivity ( σ ) have been studied in a range of frequencies for different Sb concentration at room temperature. The electrical measurement results showed that the impedance increased with Sb dopant concentration, while dielectric constant and AC conductivity decreased with Sb dopant concentration

Effects of lubricated surface in the stagnation point flow of a micropolar fluid

In this investigation, we have considered a steady, two-dimensional flow of a micropolar fluid towards a stagnation point over a lubricated plate. A power law fluid is utilized for the purpose of lubrication. To derive the slip condition in the present flow situation, continuity of shear stress and velocity has been imposed at the fluid lubricant interface. The set of nonlinear coupled ordinary differential equations subject to boundary conditions is solved by a powerful numerical technique called the Keller-box method. Some important flow features have been analyzed and discussed under the influence of slip parameter , material parameter and ratio of micro-rotation to the skin friction parameter . The main purpose of the present article is to analyze the reduction in the shear stress and couple stress effects in the presence of lubrication as compared to the viscous fluid that may be beneficial during polymeric processing

Extent of Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.) Decline in Sialkot, Gujranwala, Lahore and Sargodha Districts

A thorough survey of four districts of Punjab viz. Sialkot, Gujranwala, Lahore and Sargodha was carried out during May-June 2003 to study the present scenario of shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.) decline in these areas and to find out relationship, if any, between disease severity and edaphic conditions. From each of the four districts, canal banks, highways and roadsides, and agricultural lands were surveyed. In Lahore surveyed areas also included University of the Punjab, Aitchison College and roadside along the canal bank of BRB Lahore Branch. From each district 700 – 1200 plants were observed. Shisham trees were found to be attacked with two types of diseases viz. wilting and dieback, the latter being the more prevalent than the former. Maximum mortality of 75 – 80 % was observed along the canal banks except BRB Lahore branch. Along the highways and roadsides 20 – 40 % plants were found dead. In the Punjab University about 10 % plants were found dead while 17 % were affected with dieback and wilting ranging from mild infection to highly diseased. The least disease incidence and mortality rate was observed on plants growing on agricultural lands, along the roadside of BRB Lahore branch and in Aitchison College. Disease incidence and severity seemed to have no relation with soil pH. Generally older plants were found to be more susceptible to the disease attack than the younger ones. It was concluded that plant resistance to disease attack was associated with proper irrigation management. Apparently stressed conditions especially high soil moisture content is responsible for the attack and severity of the disease. It is recommended that along the canal bank shisham should be replaced with Eucalyptus spp. Furthermore, seeds from the resistant shisham plants, standing healthy among the hundreds of dead ones along the canal banks, should be used to raise nurseries for shisham plantation on suitable places away from the canals.&nbsp

Dieback Resistance Potential in Different Varieties of Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.)

Nine phenotypically different varieties of Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.) were identified from Punjab University, Quaid-e-Azam Lahore, Pakistan and adjacent areas, on the basis of physical appearance of the plant, branching pattern, pod characters, leaf and leaflet size and shape, branching and leaf density and stem surface characteristics. On the basis of their relative resistance to dieback disease, the different varieties were named as Resistant 1, Susceptible 1‑4, Unspecified 1‑4. The Resistant 1 variety is characterized with dense, and long branches, which grow outward and downward forming a canopy. Generally plants do not attain much height. Leaves are large up to 16 cm in length, with four or five leaflets per leaf. Leaflets broad, globose or subglobose, young leaflets glaucous, mature leaflets glabrous, leaflet apex apiculate. Pods small, generally one rarely two seeded. Susceptible 1 and Susceptible 2 varieties were found to be highly susceptible to dieback showing 20% or more dieback incidence. These two varieties have been commonly cultivated in Punjab. Susceptible 3 and Susceptible 4 varieties were least susceptible showing dieback incidence not more than 2 %. The unspecified varieties 1 – 4 were named so because they did not show any disease symptoms but number of plants of these varieties was not large enough to decide their resistant potential. Shisham forestation can be revived by planting Resistant 1 and less susceptible varieties viz., Susceptible 3 and Susceptible 4 on suitable, well-drained sandy loam soils

Consensus Development on Poll Date Issue: Critical Analysis of Headline Discourse of Pakistani Print Media

Election is a very sensitive issue of every country because as a result of it, new political administration is elected by the people to run various matters of the state. In the developed countries, this democratic process is processed in a natural rhythm on proper time. But in the developing countries like Pakistan where democracy is not well rooted, election process is always uncertain due to unavoidable circumstances. Keeping in view the context, this study explores the role of media in representation of poll date issue for general elections 2013. In this respect, the headlines of three widely distributed English newspapers (DAWN, The News International and The Nation) have been selected by using Simple random sampling technique. The duration of the study ranges between July 2012 and December 2012 that is very significant pre-election period. Faircloug

-AMINOCYCLOPROPANE-1-CARBOXYLATE (ACC) ENRICHMENT: AN EFFECTIVE APPROACH TO SCREEN PLANT GROWTH-PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIA FOR MAIZE

By using enrichment medium containing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) as sole nitrogen source, 21 strains were isolated from the maize rhizosphere in two phases i.e., 9 isolates in first phase and 12 isolates in second phase. Two trials in glass jars were conducted under gnotobiotic conditions to select effective plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). All the 21 isolates tested in both the trials exhibited growth promoting activity in maize but with variable degree of efficacy. Among the 9 isolates tested in 1st trial, isolate Q14 caused an increase of 7.1-folds in root elongation over uninoculated control. Shoot length and seedling fresh weight (root + shoot) were increased up to 7.0-and 2.0-folds, respectively, over uninoculated control in response to inoculation with Q7. In the 2 nd trial, rhizobacterial isolate Q30 was found to be the most effective as its inoculation resulted in 2.8-, 2.0-and 1.7-folds increase in root elongation, shoot length and seedling fresh weight (root + shoot weight), respectively, over uninoculated control. The growth promoting activity exhibited by the rhizobacteria might be due to their ability to hydrolyze ACC, thus resulting in decreased endogenous ethylene synthesis, which eliminated the potential inhibitory effects of higher ethylene concentrations. Results showed that use of ACC-enriched medium is an effective and efficient approach to select promising PGPR