The Adoption of Management Accounting Practices (Maps) in Small and Medium Enterprises (SME's) of Pakistan

The practices of Management Accounting have not been highly adopted in developing countries. But with increased importance of these practices, firms of developing countries are motivated to adopt MAPs. In this research, MAPs align with increased importance of SMEs have been studied and provide understanding to enhance adoption of MAPs in SMEs. This study outlines the usage of MAPs in Pakistani SMEs; identify the contextual factors that affect the adoption of MAPs by SMEs and lastly explore perceived benefits and problems in adoption of these practices.  A mixed methodology was used to collect data. A questionnaire with five categories of MAPs was used to examine the extent of use of MAPs by 100 SMEs of Multan from textile sector. Eight interviews were conducted to identify the factors, benefits and problems. However, the results shows that majority of respondent firms adopt traditional MAPs and other medium sized firms do more focus on contemporary MAPs. The findings of current study can be helpful and informative for practitioners and policy makers in the development of contemporary MAPs as well as provide deep insight for SMEs to enhance their business by adopting these practices

Personality traits and mental health Of university male students Viewing internet Pornography

Studies have indicated that viewing internet pornography is like addiction and has been implicated in the development of psychosocial issues leading to mental health. However, in view of Pakistani culture, psychosocial issues and mental health problems associated with viewing internet pornography especially in perspective to personality traits are not studied yet. Objective: Objective of the current study was to investigate any effect of personality traits on mental health of university male students viewing internet pornography

Long term effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy for treatment of postpartum depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The existing trials on the long term effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for the treatment of postpartum depression have conflicting results. Therefore, we performed a systematic review to summarize the current evidence.Methodology: Literature search was performed using electronic databases Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and PsychINFO were explored from January 2000 to March 2013.All peer-reviewed English-published randomized controlled trials were eligible if they assessed the long term (at least at 24 weeks post partum) effectiveness of CBT versus standard postpartum care for prevention of postpartum depression. Data from eligible studies were abstracted by using structured data extraction form and pooled for calculation of relative risk ratio.Results: Five randomized controlled trials fulfilled eligibility criteria. In the included studies, the total number of women was 1087 with age ranged from 17 years to 42 years. Assessment carried on the ‘Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool’ showed the trials included in this review had low risk of bias. Two trials had sample size less than 50. Two out of five trials reported beneficial effect of CBT whereas three trials found no difference. Meta-analysis [random effect model] revealed 30% reduction in the prevalence of depression in the intervention group as compared with the control group [RR: 0.70 (95% C.I: 0.55 to 0.90)]. However, these results showed effectiveness of intervention because of one large trial and excluding this trial, there was no significant difference.Conclusion: In this systematic review, we found a beneficial effect of CBT in the prevention of postpartum depression at 24 weeks of postpartum period. However, the evidence is limited by a small number of trials with results being dominated by a single large trial. Robust research with larger sample size is needed to determine the long-term effectiveness of CBT for treatment of postpartum depression

Effect of farm yard manure and planting densities on growth, yield and quality of okra under natural farming

A field study was conducted to investigate the effect of farm yard manure and planting densities (P x P 10, 15, 20 and 25 cm and R x R 60 cm) under natural farming condition at National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad during 2016. The land was incorporated with well rotten farm yard manure (FYM) @ 25 t ha-1 in respective plots (4 x 8 meter) one week before bed preparation and mixed thoroughly in the soil. Seeds of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L., var. Pusa Green) were sown according to the plan following split plot design with four replications. The crop was allowed to stand till maturity and data on growth traits were recorded. Among plant densities, 10 and 15 cm P x P and FYM incorporation @ 25 t ha-1 produced comparable fresh pod yield (11.22 and 10.97 t ha-1, respectively) which was 25 and 24 % higher than that of without FYM application. Dense populated crop i.e., 10 and 15 cm P x P performed better than rest of planting densities through improved fresh pod yield with comparatively improved quality. Dense populated treatment (P x P 10 cm) and FYM application @ 25 t ha-1 produced better quality fruits with less crude fiber content (9.89 %) and higher moisture content (79.14%) as compared to without FYM application (10.93 and 77.49 %) respectively that indicates more accumulation of dry matter content in fruits

Growth and yield of garlic (Allium Sativum L.) influenced by Zn and Fe application

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of Zn and Fe application on growth and yield of garlic (Allium sativum L.) var. Desi Sufaid at National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad during Rabi season 2018-2019. Eight kilogram of sandy clay loam soil was filled in the pots. Four garlic cloves were sown in each pot. The treatments of Zn, Fe and their mixture (1:1 ratio) @ 5 kg ha-1 along with basal dose of N, P and K (100, 75 and 50 mg kg-1) fertilizer were applied at sowing following complete randomized design with three replications. The plants were allowed to stand till maturity and data on growth traits like plant height (cm), pseudo stem diameter (cm), leaf length (cm), leaves plant-1, bulb diameter (cm), cloves (bulb-1), clove weight (g) and bulb yield (g plant-1) were recorded at harvest. The mean data were analyzed statistically. The highest growth attributes like plant height, number of leaves per plant, bulb diameter, cloves, clove weight and bulb yield were harvested with micronutrients (Zn and Fe) along with basal dose of N, P and K (100, 75 and 50 mg kg-1) application which were significantly higher as compared to control. Though, all the treatments showed positive effect through growth characteristics and yield, however, the mixture of Zn and Fe application produced comparable garlic yield among all the treatments which was 6 and 4 (%) higher than that of sole application of Zn and Fe, respectively. Significant improvement in Zn and Fe concentration in garlic plant tissues was observed with the application of Zn and Fe respectively. Overall the combination of both micronutrients performed better than rest of the treatments through improved growth traits and bulb yield

Knowledge Regarding Common Risk Factors of Oral Cancer at Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad

Background: Oral cancer is one of the most life-threatening condition in world early diagnosis of oral cancer can increase the chances of survival rates. The present study was carried out to see the knowledge of common risk factor of oral cancer among adult patients visiting Liaquat university hospital Hyderabad.Objective: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge and awareness of common risk factors of oral cancer among population of Hyderabad City.Material and Methods: Self administered proforma containing 10 questions were distributed into 150 patients age group 18 to 25 years to obtain the information. The question included the information about patient’s age, gender, habits and risk factor of oral cancer.Result: A total 150 patients participated in this study out of which male were 110 and female were 40. This study showed adult populations of Hyderabad have good knowledge regarding risk factor of oral cancer.Conclusion: Despite of having good knowledge regarding risk factors of oral cancer, a big amount of adult population is used to it. Government should take steps in order to ban these harmful products in the region where they are extensively used

أثر استخدام تطبيقي جوجل ومايكروسوفت في تنمية مهارات التعليم عن بُعد لدى معلمي المدارس الخاصة في مأدبا

هدف المقال إلى استقصاء الاحتياجات التدريبية اللازمة لتنمية مهارات المعلمين في التعليم عن بُعد، وتلبيتها من خلال دورات متخصصة على تطبيقي جوجل ومايكروسوفت. وقد تكونت عينة الدراسة من (31) معلمًا ومعلمة من المدارس الخاصة من مدينة مأدبا، تم اختيارهم بالطريقة القصدية، واعتمدت الدراسة على تصميم مكون من مجموعتين تجريبيتين مستقلتين، حيث تضمن ذلك تطبيق بطاقة الملاحظة أداة للقياس (القبلي والبعدي)، وتم عقد دورة تدريبية للمعلمين لتنمية مهارات التعليم عن بُعد، باستخدام تطبيقات جوجل للمجموعة الأولى، وتطبيقات مايكروسوفت للمجموعة الثانية. وأظهرت النتائج أن هنالك أثراً واضحاً للستخدام تطبيقي جوجل ومايكروسوفت لتنمية مهارات التعليم عن بُعد لدى عينة الدراسة، وعدم وجود فروق دالة إحصائياً (0.05 = α) في تنمية مهارات التعليم عن بُعد يعزى لاستخدام أي من التطبيقين في التعليم عن بُعد. وأوصت الدراسة بضرورة الاهتمام بتحديد الاحتياجات التدريبية للمعلمين في مجال التعليم عن بُعد، من خلال إعداد دورات تدريبية لتنمية وتطوير مهاراتهم. The article aimed to investigate the necessary training needs to develop teachers’ skills in distance education, through specialized courses based on Google and Microsoft applications. The study sample consisted of (31) male and female teachers from private schools in Madaba, They were chosen by the intentional method, and the study relied on a design consisting of two independent experimental groups. Which includes an observation card as a measurement tool for both pre and post. A training course was performed for teachers to develop their skills in distance education for the first group via Google applications, and for the second group via Microsoft applications. The results showed that there is a clear effect of using Google and Microsoft applications to develop distance education skills among the study sample, and there are no statistically significant differences (α = 0.05) in developing distance education skills, due to the use of both applications.The study recommends the importance of identifying the training needs of teachers in the field of distance education, through preparing training courses to develop and enhance their skills