The small and medium enterprises Act as catalyst for economic growth and development in Pakistan: Economic growth and development perspective

This paper explores the value of small and medium enterprises for the economic growth and development especially in Pakistan. Moreover, it assesses the usage of information technology in SMEs sector of Pakistan. According to the recent Census of Establishments conducted by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) there are about 3.2 million economic establishments in Pakistan. Out of these Small & Medium sized enterprises (SMEs) (with employment base up to 99) constitute 90% of all private enterprises employing approximately 78% of non-agriculture labor force1. SMEs contributed over 30% to GDP, 25% in export earnings besides sharing 35% in manufacturing value addition2. The paper suggests that SMEs act as a catalyst to economical growth and development where IT embedded in their operations, planning and decisions like Hong Kong, Denmark and USA. Many other societies also place great value on the small and medium enterprises and encourage their activity. In fact, wealth and a high majority of jobs are created by small & medium businesses in the world. As a result, many experienced business people, political leaders, economists, and educators believe that fostering a robust small and medium business culture will maximize individual and collective economic and social success on a local, national, and global scale. It is recommended that SMEs may be offered access to inexpensive capital, tax exemptions and management advice & experiences and IT infrastructure which further leads toward the economical growth & development. The economical growth and development in a country can brings happiness and prosperity to its nation

Deficient intakes of energy and macronutrients in Pakistani female students assessed by composite samples method

The main purpose of the study was to compare the energy and macronutrients intakes by composite sample method. Duplicate food samples for seven days i.e., breakfast, lunch and dinner and whatever else ate during the week were analyzed for macronutrients consumption. Twenty female students were registered from the female hostel of the NWFP, Agricultural University Peshawar Pakistan. Age, weight, height and skin folds of the students were recorded on the day of the registration. From the anthropometry Basal Metabolic Index (BMI) was determined. The composite food samples were analyzed for protein, carbohydrates and fats. The energy values were determined by multiplying the daily eaten protein, carbohydrates and fats with 4, 4 and 9, respectively. The mean values of energy and macronutrients intakes were compared with the norms as appropriate. The energy and protein intakes were lower by -29.34% and protein intake was higher by 42.65% compared with American Dietetic Association (ADA). Similarly, compared to the WHO/FAO values the energy was lower -30.57 and protein was higher by 43.29, respectively. The energy contribution was higher from protein by 151% and lower from carbohydrates and fats by -28.35 and 23.43%, respectively. This study suggests that students are having deficient or imbalance energy intakes from macronutrients and are at the risk of malnutrition

Comparison of energy and macro-nutrients intakes in university hostel students in two countries of Asia

Objective: The aim of this was to compare energy and macro-nutrients intakes in university hostel students in two Ccuntries of Asia Methods: Female students from the hostels of International Islamic University, Malaysia, Kuantan Campus and NWFP, Agricultural University Peshawar- Pakistan were assessed for the energy and macro-nutrients intakes. A total of 140 students were registered who volunteered to participate in this study. The age range of the registered students was 22-26 years. On the day of the registration, age, height and weight were recorded; also, food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) were provided. The participants were asked to record alternately for three days whatever they ate during the prescribed week. Out of 140 students 139 returned the FFQs and one of the students failed to return therefore excluded from the study. From the anthropometry, the BMI was used to assess the under, ideal, over-weight and obese students. From the FFQs, energy and nutrient intakes were calculated using the food composition Tables for Malaysia & Pakistan and compared with the recommended nutrients intakes (RNIs). Results: The body weight for the required height among the Malaysian students was lower by 7.81 percent than the reference value whereas the body weight of Pakistani students matched to the reference weight for height (Table 1). The Malaysian students were 28.0, 61.0, 5.5 and 0.9 % under, ideal, over-weight and obese respectively whereas Pakistani students were 100 % in the category of ideal-body weight. The total energy consumption was higher among Malaysian students by 9.93 % compared to the reference requirements whereas the Pakistani students claimed to meet the requirements. In terms of nutrients balancing the Malaysian students were having the ideal combination of the macro-nutrients and it was within the recommended range of 55-60, 15-20 and 25-30 % for carbohydrates, protein and fat respectively. These were poor among the Pakistani students and meet the energy requirements at the expense of fat consumption. Conclusions: This study suggests that there is imbalance in macro-nutrients intake among the student

Fabry’s Disease: Case Series and Review of Literature

Fabry’s disease is an X‑linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of alpha‑galactosidase A enzyme with the progressive accumulation of globotriaosylceramide in vascular endothelial cells leading to cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal, neuropathic, lenticular, and dermatological manifestations. It is a rare cause of end‑stage renal disease. It classically affects males whereas 10–15% of female heterozygote carriers are affected depending on localization. Both the FD and its association with ESRD is rare. With this background, this case series of five patient’s along with the review of literature is presented here.Keywords: Alpha‑galactosidase A, End‑stage renal disease, Fabry’s disease, Kidney transplantation, Proteinuri

Physiological effects of dietary complex carbohydrates and its metabolites role in certain diseases

Carbohydrate is one of the basic and an important food nutrient consumed worldwide. Like-wise Pakistani foods contain more carbohydrates than any other food nutrient consumed. Sometimes, Pakistani foods are devoid of protein and may contain only carbohydrates and fats as the major nutrients of the diet e.g. eating chapati (wheat bread) with potato curry. Certain non-communicable diseases can be avoided with adoption of proper healthier food habits and eating foods according to the needs of the body. These diseases are obesity, coronary heart disease, colonic cancer and gastrointestinal disorders (diverticular disease, constipation, hiatal hernia and hemorrhoids). Therefore complex carbohydrate should be an important constituent of our daily meal and it can be adopted for the management of certain diseases provided that it is used in proper amounts. Consumption of certain complex carbohydrates is associated with lower body weight, reduced blood cholesterol, reduced blood glucose and an increased crypt cell proliferation. Therefore, it is necessary and utmost important to know the various types of carbohydrates to enable us to decide to include carbohydrates in our daily food according to our health requirements. Not necessarily all the community need to know but at least those who are associated with nutrition and health management must know the beneficial as well as the harmful effects of carbohydrates

Biological significance of Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) in human health – a review

The recognition of vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) is associated with history of an unrelenting search for the cause of the ancient hemorrhagic disease scurvy. Isolated in 1928, vitamin C is essential for the development and maintenance of connective tissues. It plays an important role in bone formation, wound healing and the maintenance of healthy gums. Vitamin C plays an important role in a number of metabolic functions including the activation of the B vitamin, folic acid, the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids and the conversion of the amino acid, tryptophan, to the neurotransmitter, serotonin. It is an antioxidant that protects body from free radicals’ damages. It is used as therapeutic agent in many diseases and disorders. Vitamin C protects the immune system, reduces the severity of allergic reactions and helps fight off infections

A Case Study on Water Storage Tank Design, Constrution, Operation and Assessment in District Kalat, Balochistan

Balochistan has been blessed with all types of ecological zones; the only limited factor is water. Also grow more food by each drop of water is the cry of the day. For this it is utmost important to take maximum discharge from already design structures. In Balochistan there is no irrigation at night and tubewell is operating full night whose discharge were wasted and Electricity load shedding problems are also there especially at day time. For this a storage tank is required which stores water for further utilization at day time irrigation hours. For the design of storage tank the tube well discharge ,its operating hours and other parameters were assessed. Discharge of tube well was determined by using trajectory method which was 10 lps. Ten hours were taken as operating hours The construction of the water storage tank involves different steps that are removal of vegetation from the design area, land leveling, materials selection which included water, cement, sand and gravel.. The recommended Tank dimension (Length X Width X Height of 17m X 17m X 1.37m) for scheme incorporated. Tank is backfilled with near by soil. The water stored during night is most beneficially utilized for 6 hr since morning for the command area at the tail of the water course instead of design discharge of tube well of 10 LPS (during day time) for the whole area which was not possible otherwise. Keywords: Storage Tank, Design, Construction, Discharge, Cost Benefit Rati

Bioactivity -guided isolation of antimicrobial agent from Coleus amboinicus Lour (Torbangun)

The leaves of Coleus amboinicus from Indonesia (CAL-I) and from Malaysia, Coleus aromaticus (CAT-M), Pogostemon cablin (PC-M), Coleus blumei–red leaves (CBR-M), Coleus amboinicus– (CAL-M) Coleus blumei –purple leaves (CBP-M) were collected from different localities, freeze dried and extracted with aqueous methanol. The biological activity in vitro, especially in relation to total phenolic & flavonoid contents, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were studied. Total phenolic content was determined according to the Folin-Ciocalteu method whilst antioxidant activity was assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The antimicrobial activity of the extract was determined by making use of macro dilution and disc diffusion methods on two gram positive bacteria, two gram negative bacteria and on fungus as well. Furthermore, the toxicity was also assessed for the extracts by performing acute toxicity test. The phenolic content among the six Lamiaceae leaves extract showed significant difference (p<0.05) in result ranging from 55.21 - 95.17 mg GAE/g of dried samples. Pogostemon cablin (PC-M) had the highest content of phenolic followed by C. blumei (CBP-M). There were significant differences (p<0.05) of IC50 value of six Lamiaceae leaves extract ranging from 10.5 – 34.1 µg/ml. Among the species studied, Coleus amboinicus (CAL-M) and Pogostemon cablin (PC-M) showed higher antioxidant activity compared to the other leaves extracts. All leaves extracts showed activity at least against one strain of bacteria and result showed significant difference (p<0.05) between activities on the microorganism studied. On the contrary, all of the leaves extracts were not effective against C. albicans. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of all leaves extracts ranged from 1.0–2.0 mg/ml in inhibiting the growth of S. aureus, E. Coli, P. aeruginosa and B.subtilis. The acute toxicity test using C. Blumei leaves extract showed that there was no mortality of animals recorded at the highest dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight. This study shows that the extracts can be used as antioxidant and antimicrobial agent without having the toxic effect

Energy and nutrients intakes of male and female university students

Male and female students residing in the on campus hostels were explained the aim and importance of this study. Among the students registered were 30 male and 30 female who volunteered to participate in this study. The age range of the registered students was 22 – 26 years. On the day of the registration the age, height and weight were recorded and at the same time, they were given food frequency questionnaires (FFQs). They were asked to record alternately for three days whatever they ate during the prescribed week. Out of sixty students 51 (22 male and 29 female) returned the FFQs and the rest were excluded from the study. From the anthropometry, the weight and height for the given ages were compared with the international standards. From the FFQs the energy and nutrients intake was calculated using the food composition table for all students and compared with the recommended nutrients intakes (RNIs) reported by the FAO/WHO for the same age, height and weight. The total energy consumption was more in the female students than in the male students. Eighty two percent of the male and 21% of the female students had lower energy intake than their RNIs for energy. Eighty two percent of the male students had lower relative energy from protein and 91% had lower energy from carbohydrate intake than their respective RNIs. Similarly, in 48% of the female students had lower relative energy from protein and 76% had lower energy from carbohydrate intake than their respective RNIs. The relative contribution of energy from fat was higher in 95 % of the male and 97 % of the female students than their RNIs. The mean mineral intake was lower both for male and female students with the exception that the intake of P was more than the RNIs by 18.4 and 11.5 % for the male and female students respectively. The mean Fe intake was more than the RNIs by 37.3% in male students. Similarly, the vitamins intake was lower as well, both in male and female students with exception that they were having higher intake for vitamin A and C. Apart from these nutrients, all the students surveyed had lower dietary intake of fibre and cholesterol. This study indicates that the students are at the risk of specific nutrient deficiencies and the energy requirement is mainly met through dietary fat intake instead of carbohydrate

Hand Gesture Classification Using Emg Signal

The art of gesture recognition involves identification and classification of gestures. A gesture is any reproducible action or a sequence of actions. There are lots of techniques and algorithms to recognize gestures. In the project, gestures are recognized using biological signals generated by the human body. There are many biological signals that can be used for gesture recognition. Some of them are Electroencephalogram (EEG), Electrocardiogram (ECG), and Electromyogram (EMG). EMG signals are generally used because they have good signal strength (in the order of mV). Thus we use emg signal as the acquisition of EMG signals is easy and less complex ascompared to the above mentioned signals. Five different gestures such as Six features such as . root mean square, mean, standard deviation, variance, maximum and minimum values are extracted from the emg signals. The classifier used under the study is SVM , giving classification accuracy of 96.8%