Proximally Based Medial Hemi-Soleus Muscle Flap Employed For Moderate-Sized Pretibial Defects of the Middle Third of the Leg

OBJECTIVES This study was undertaken to document the clinical indications and outcome of proximally based medial Hemi-soleus muscle flap for coverage of moderate-sized complex pretibial defects of the middle third of the leg. METHODOLOGY This descriptive case series was conducted at the Department of Plastic Surgery, National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM), Islamabad and Burn & Trauma Center, Hayatabad, Peshawar, over five years. (i.e., from November 01, 2016, to December 31, 2021). It included all adult patients of either gender whose complex pretibial wounds of the middle third leg were managed with proximally based medial Hemi-soleus muscle flaps. RESULTS The mean age was 31.40±9.83 years, ranging between 19-47 years. All the patients had complex post-traumatic defects secondary to road traffic accidents. There were 9(33.3%) patients with minor defects (i.e., measuring ≤2×2 cm2), whereas 18(66.6%) patients had medium-sized defects (i.e., ≥2×2 cm2 and ≤7×5 cm2). Their hospital stay ranged between 9-15 days with a mean stay of 11.92±3.1 days. All the flaps (100%) survived. Partial skin graft loss was encountered among three patients (n=3;11.1%). CONCLUSION The study provides a good evidence base regarding the usefulness of the flap in managing complex defects of the leg. It is recommended to carry out similar studies internationally. These should help improve our findings and come up with further refinements

Facebook Effect on Enhancement of English Learners’ Writing Approach at University Level in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Social Media plays a pivotal role in this modern technological era. Facebook is one of the most important tools of Social Media which is used by millions of users and most frequently visited web-site therefore, the present study was conducted to find out the effect of Facebook on enhancement of English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ writing approach at university level. Main objectives of the study were to find out Facebook effect on EFL learners’ writing approach at university level in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The second one was that to compare Facebook based English learners with those learners who use traditional methods for writing skills development, and similarly, to compare the learning competencies/ abilities of both Facebook users and those users who use traditional methods for writing skills improvement. The study was guided by the following null hypothesis: Ho1.The first null hypothesis shows that there is no significant difference between the Mean Scores of experimental and control group on pre-test.Ho2: The second null hypothesis shows that there is no significant difference between the  Mean Scores of experimental and control groups on post-test 3: The third one is that there is no significant difference between the Mean scores of those students who use Facebook for writing skill and those who use traditional methods for writing skill development. In order to achieve the desired objectives the researcher randomly selected 20 students for this experimental study as a respondent, and then divided them according to their age, academic achievement and their intellectual level. An equivalent writing test, developed by the researcher was applied on the control and the experimental groups before the study started to ensure their equivalence; and was also used as a post-test. The result of this study showed that Facebook Keywords: (Using Facebook, University level EFL learners, Enhancement of Writing skills

Presentation and Management Outcome of Unilateral and Bilateral Prominent Ears with Standard Otoplasty Techniques

Objective: To determine the outcome of otoplasty in terms of a satisfactory cosmetic outcome and any postoperative complications. Methodology: This descriptive case series was carried out over a period of five years from January 2017 to December 2021 at the Burn and Trauma Center, Department of Plastic Surgery, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. Patients of all ages and genders who presented with prominent ears and underwent corrective procedures at our institute were included. Patients who were unwilling to undergo surgery or who did not consent to inclusion in the study were excluded. Patients with constricted ears, cryptotia, shell ears, and question mark ears were also excluded. Results: Out of 45 patients, 29 (64.44%) were females and 16 (35.55%) were males. Their ages ranged between 11-30 years, with a mean of 22.28±5.49 years. The anomaly was bilateral in 84.44% (n = 38) of the patients, while 15.55% (n=7) patients had unilateral defects. 57.7% (n=26) of the patients were unmarried, whereas 42.3% (n=19) were married. All the patients had satisfactory cosmetic outcomes. Various complications encountered included extrusion of sutures (n=3; 6.66%) and superficial wound infection (n=1; 2.22%). Conclusion: Correction of the prominent ears with the standard otoplasty techniques yields satisfactory cosmetic results. Lasting results can be achieved by combining different otoplasty techniques that are stable over time

HR Practices and Organizational Innovation: The Mediating Role of Knowledge Management Effectiveness

Organizational innovation has been recognized as an important instrument for organizations to compete in the competitive environment. Pakistan telecom sector strive to transform their business model from labour-intensive to knowledge-intensive, which intend to thrust themselves in higher value added activities such as, developing new products, processes, and services, to continual sustain the competitiveness. One of the means to increase the organizational innovation is through effective human resource management practices and effective knowledge management. This study examined the direct association between human resource management practices (performance appraisal, career management, training, reward system, recruitment and employee recognition) and organizational innovation. Moreover, it also observed the mediating role of knowledge management effectiveness on the direct relationship. Data was collected from a sample of 290 personnel of telecom sector of Pakistan. The regression results showed that human resource management practices generally had a positive impact on organizational innovation. Particularly, the results signify that training and employee recognition were positively related to three dimensions of organizational innovation. Performance appraisal also established to have a positive impact on administrative innovation. Additionally, this study also demonstrates that training, performance appraisal, and employee recognition were positively associated to knowledge management effectiveness

HR Practices and Organizational Innovation: The Mediating Role of Knowledge Management Effectiveness

Organizational innovation has been recognized as an important instrument for organizations to compete in the competitive environment. Pakistan telecom sector strive to transform their business model from labour-intensive to knowledge-intensive, which intend to thrust themselves in higher value added activities such as, developing new products, processes, and services, to continual sustain the competitiveness. One of the means to increase the organizational innovation is through effective human resource management practices and effective knowledge management. This study examined the direct association between human resource management practices (performance appraisal, career management, training, reward system, recruitment and employee recognition) and organizational innovation. Moreover, it also observed the mediating role of knowledge management effectiveness on the direct relationship. Data was collected from a sample of 290 personnel of telecom sector of Pakistan. The regression results showed that human resource management practices generally had a positive impact on organizational innovation. Particularly, the results signify that training and employee recognition were positively related to three dimensions of organizational innovation. Performance appraisal also established to have a positive impact on administrative innovation. Additionally, this study also demonstrates that training, performance appraisal, and employee recognition were positively associated to knowledge management effectiveness. Keywords: human resource management practices, organizational innovation, knowledge management effectiveness

Non-linear control law for articulated serial manipulators: Simulation augmented with hardware implementation

The performance of a robotic arm includes accuracy, repeatability and reliability to accomplish a task. These parameters, in turn, are function of associated control law. Multi-Degree Of Freedom (DOF) robotic arms, because of their inherent highly non-linear dynamics, demand sophisticated control laws. Trivial control strategies fail to cope with disturbances and uncertainties that are common in today's plants. This paper presents the design, simulation and physical implementation of a non-linear control technique Variable Structure Control (VSC) for a 6 DOF arm. Based on the derived dynamic model of the arm and designed control law, simulations have been conducted in MATLAB/Simulink. The controller parameters have been tuned for optimal response. Various desired trajectories characterize the tracking performance of the control law. The simulation results have been then validated by implementing the law on a customdeveloped novel AUTonomous Articulated Robotic Educational Platform (AUTAREP). Coupling effects between various joints of the robot have also been investigated. Results of this research find potential in industrial control of robotic manipulators to perform complex tasks

Evaluation of Different Insecticide Formulations Against \u3ci\u3eLipaphis erysimi\u3c/i\u3e (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a Pest on Oil Seed Crop, \u3ci\u3eCamelina sativa\u3c/i\u3e in Pakistan

False flax, German sesame and Siberian oilseed are the names used for oil seed crop, Camelina sativa L. Crantz of the family Brassicaceae. Camelina sativa is a flexible, summer annual oilseed crop that can be raised in different climatic and soil conditions. The objectives of this study were to test the efficacy of different insecticides against aphid, Lipaphis erysimi on Canadian and Australian Camelina sativa varieties. Insecticides were tested at their field recommended doses using knapsack sprayer. The data on adult mortality of Lipaphis erysimi were recorded after 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h. Acetamiprid and mospilon were found more effective in controlling aphid. For Canadian variety, after 5 days of application, maximum mortality was recorded for acetamiprid (98.70%) while least was observed for diafenthiuron (53.52%). In case of Australian camelina, maximum mortality (98.26%) of aphid were found using acetamiprid. Acetamiprid was the most effective insecticide to control aphid in both varieties of Camelina sativa

How does the sectoral composition of FDI induce economic growth in developing countries? The key role of business regulations

The prior empirical outcomes on the FDI-growth relationship are vastly conflicting. The key possible reason for these conflicting findings is the use of aggregate FDI, while FDI impacts largely depend on the receiving sectors of the host country. This study empirically estimated the influence of sectoral FDI on the economic growth and the role of business regulations in influencing the FDI-growth connection of 85 developing countries, for the time 1996–2019 and applied 2SLS method. The outcomes indicate the significant contribution of sectoral FDI inflows to economic growth. In contrast, the interaction of regulations with sectoral FDI negatively impacted host countries’ economic growth. Furthermore, in low income countries, only agriculture and industry FDI have growth promoting effect, while manufacturing and services FDI are insignificant. Similarly, FDI inflows to all sectors positively affect middle income countries’ economic growth except services FDI. However, FDI inflows to all sectors enhance high income countries economic growth. The regulations’ interaction with all types of FDI adversely affects the economic growth across all income groups, except agriculture and services FDI in the case of low and high income countries, which are found insignificant. The outcomes are consistent by employing diverse econometric techniques and model specifications

Clinical severity spectrum of re-infected cov-19 patients in Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa (KPK)

Background: Re-infection is infection likely to occurred second time. Recently due to increase in the pandemic of SARS COV-2 there were increased in cases of re-infection but the clinically severity spectrum of re-infection is unknown. This study is design to determine clinical severity of re-infected COV-19 patients. Material and methodology: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in pathology department of Rehman Medical Institute Peshawar Pakistan and Leady Reading Hospital Peshawar within duration of 6 months (February-July 2021). Inclusion criteria: Patients who were re-infected by SARS COV-2 and having duration between primary infection and re-infection are > 30 days were included. Exclusion criteria: Unwilling patient to give data and patients having duration between primary infection and re-infection is<30 days were excluded from the study. Sample size: Total 32 samples were collected by designing proper Questionnaire according to the criteria of (World Health Organization). The collected data will be analyzed through SPSS version 22. The frequencies, mean, standard deviation of data was performed by descriptive statistics in SPSS. Result: Out of 32 primary SARS COV-2 infected individuals, 20 have mild infection while in same 32 re-infected SARS COV-2 individuals 19 individuals have severe symptoms in its secondary infection with mean age (32years) of individuals. Conclusion: In current study by comparing primary symptoms of SARS COV-2 infected individuals with symptoms of Re-infected individuals, symptoms are mild and severe respectively. Hence, re-infection cause by SARS COV-2 is more severe than primary infectio

Being Dissimilar: Religious Dissimilarity, Gender Dissimilarity, Value Dissimilarity and Job Satisfaction

The aim of this research is to study the impact of religious dissimilarity, and gender dissimilarity on job satisfaction. Religious dissimilarity and sexual dissimilarity definitely exaggerated supposed value dissimilarity, which in line, detained a pessimistic relationship with job satisfaction. These properties are capable, though, by a considerable religious difference, religious personal identity relations such that, for people whose religious values are a vital element of who they are, becoming religiously dissimilar in the place of work robustly impact their supposed value dissimilarity