ELECTRONIC INTEGRATION AND STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL STUDY IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY

Strategic advantage through information technology is a popular theme, but the extent of research support is sporadic, minimal, and unsystematic. This paper reports some preliminary results of a quasiexperimental study on the role of dedicated electronic integration (between an insurance carrier and its independent agents in the Property and Casualty market) in providing strategic benefits to this carrier. The results indicate that the agents that are electronically interfaced with the carrier report improvements in a set of four performance factors in the expected direction (six months after system installation) but statistically different from a matched set of non-interfaced agents (based on size, state, and location category) only in terms of increases in efficiency (number of policies) but not in terms of effectiveness (increase in financial performance indices). Further, within the sample of electronicallyinterfaced agents, over a one-year period after integration, the differential performance positions continue for this factor, raising the possibility of learning effects. Some explanations, extensions and research implications are outlined

Measurement of NO2 indoor and outdoor concentrations in selected public schools of Lahore using passive sampler

Higher levels of NO2 are a danger to human health especially for children. A seven day study was carried to find out the ambient concentrations of NO2in 27 schools of Lahore with the help of passive samplers. In each school three sites were selected, viz: laboratory, corridor and outdoors. After 7 days exposure the tubes were subjected to spectrophotometric analysis. Results showed that the maximum values measured in laboratory, outdoor and corridors were 376µg/m3 , 222µg/m3 and 77µg/m3 . Minimum values for laboratory, outdoor and corridors were 10µg/m3 , 20µg/m3 and 8µg/m3 . Factors affecting these values were laboratory activities and proximity to main roads. These values were significantly higher than the standard values defined by EPA. Therefore children in schools were at risk of developing health complications

Frequency of Clinical Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Asthmatic Patients

Background: Gastroesophageal reflex is known as an acid reflex, is long term condition where stomach contents back into the oesophagus resulting in either symptoms or complications. GERD disease is caused by weakness or failure of the lower oesophageal sphincter. Symptoms include the acidic taste behind the mouth, heart burn, chest pain, difficult breathing and vomiting. Complication includes esophagitis, oesophageal strictures and barrettes oesophagus. Objective: The aim of this research was to introduce the symptoms of GERD disease in asthmatic patients and how these symptoms worsen the symptoms of asthma disease and what clinical pictures present with the asthmatic disease. Methodology: A designed performa was used to collect the data and after filling the performa, results were drawn and conclusion through the facts and the information given by patients. Results: In the present study among all 164 asthmatic patients, 70 (42.7%) patients showed dyspepsia, 58 (35.4%) were with chest burning, 23 (14%) were asking about chest pain, with acidic mouth taste were 39 (23.8%), 22 (13.4%) were feeling sore throat and 44 (26.8%) showed regurgitation reflex. Among these 164 patients 16 (9.8%) were smokers and 148 (90.2 %) were non-smokers. 47 (28.7%) were males and 117 (71.3%) were females. Conclusion: It is concluded that gastroesophageal reflux disease in asthmatic patients present symptoms of acidic mouth taste, chest burning, chest pain, dyspepsia, regurgitation reflex and sore throat

Exposure to NO2 in occupational built environments in urban centre in Lahore

Increased economic growth, urbanisation and substantial rise in automobile vehicles has contributed towards the elevated levels of air pollution in major cities in Pakistan. Aone week study was conducted by using passive samplers to assess NO2 concentration in occupational built environments at two most congested and populated sites of Lahore. Both sites were locatedon the busy roads of Lahore. At Site-I the highest concentration was in outdoors followed by corridor and indoor. While at Site II all the sampling location wereindoors and level were comparable to that of outdoor levelsat Site I. The results suggest the likely contribution of ambient sources in exposure to indoor NO2 in educational and other occupational built environments in urban centres

DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PYRAZOLE HYBRIDS AS ANTITUBERCULAR AGENTS: SYNTHESIS, BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION AND MOLECULAR DOCKING STUDY

Objective: synthesis of new 1, 3-diphenyl pyrazole derivatives 9(a-f) and 10(a-f) using molecular hybridization approach for antitubercular and cytotoxic studies.Methods: The structures of synthesized compounds were confirmed by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and mass spectra's. The antitubercular activity of compounds and standard drugs were assessed against Mycobacterium tuberculosis using microplate Alamar Blue assay (MABA).  The cytotoxic activities were performed by Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. The molecular docking and in silico ADME prediction were studied by using Schrodinger.Results: The results reveals that the compounds 9c, 9d, 10c and 10d exhibited substantial antitubercular potential with MIC < 20 μM. The cytotoxic studies revealed that the active compounds (9d, 10a, and 10d) are non-toxic to HeLa cancer cell lines with selectivity index >10. The molecular docking study was performed to study the binding orientation and affinity of synthesized compounds for InhA enzyme.Conclusion: The study explored that the 1, 3-diphenyl pyrazole hybrids coupled with well known antitubercular drugs could be a potential lead for antitubercular agents. In-silico molecular docking study helps to identify their corresponding intermolecular ligand-protein interactions with target enzyme. Also ADME prediction studies revealed that the compounds were in acceptable range to have pharmacokinetic parameters

Outer Retinopathies Associated with COVID-19 Infection:Case Reports and Review of Literature

Background. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly contagious disease with profound health implications. It can affect any part of the body with variable severity. Various ophthalmic manifestations of coronavirus disease have been documented. Case Presentations. We reported three cases of outer retinopathies associated with COVID-19 infection. All three patients were young females. The first two patients presented within days of COVID-19 infection with complaints of black spots in the eyes. Multimodal retinal imaging showed lesions consistent with acute macular neuroretinopathy. Lesions were bilateral in the first patient and unilateral in the second one. Our third patient presented with blurred vision in one eye, 3 months after a suspected COVID-19 infection. Retinal imaging showed outer retinopathy. Our patients’ vision was good and maintained during the follow-up. All three were monitored on observation only, and symptoms and lesions improved with time. Conclusion. In conclusion, COVID-19-related thromboinflammatory response can result in localized vascular inflammation and hypoperfusion in any of the retinal capillary plexuses or choriocapillaris resulting in ischemia of the corresponding retinal or choroidal layers

TASTE MASKING OF DONEPEZIL HYDROCHLORIDE USING DIFFERENT ION EXCHANGE RESINS- A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Taste mainly depends on the physiology, sensitivity and structure of taste buds. It is an important parameter in administering drugs orally. Bitter taste is a major limitation to patient compliance. Donepezil hydrochloride (DH) is a bitter drug used in Alzheimer's disease. Amongst the many techniques for taste masking, using ion exchange resins has been extensively reported. The technique of forming tasteless complexes with bitter drugs involves selection of most appropriate exchanger and optimization of complexing ratio. The aim of the present work was to select the best cationic exchanger amongst Indion 414, Indion 234 and Indion 214. All parameters were optimized to produce drug-loaded tasteless complexes. Complexation was carried out using batch process prior to which, acid-alkali activation was performed to remove adsorbed impurities from the resin bed surface and hence improve loading efficiency. UV-spectrophotometric method was used to determine percent drug loading. The molecular properties of drug resin complexes were studied using Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Xray Powder Diffraction which confirmed complexation. Indion 414 was found to give highest drug loading and minimal drug was released from the complex at salivary pH. Key words: Donepezil HCl, Ion exchange resins, Molecular properties, Taste maskin

Immune boosting and anti-influenza effects of an Unani decoction in influenza like illness and COVID-19 like epidemics: a rationale approach

The Unani system of medicine is one of the traditional systems of medicine practised since centuries in many parts of the world including India. At a time when the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is still raging across the globe and there is still no appreciable satisfactory management available with vaccination being the only panacea in the near future, unani medicine chiefly composed of herbal drugs is replete with many classical references for the management of influenza like illness and COVID-19 like epidemics. In Unani medicine, nazla-i-wabāi is referred as influenza for which a decoction containing Behidana (Cydonia oblonga), Unnab (Ziziphus jujuba) and Sapistan (Cordia myxa) are recommended to relieve the clinical features of nazla-i-wabāi and other COVID-19 like epidemics. All the three ingredients of this formulation are also individually used for the treatment of sore throat, cough, septicaemia, fever, dyspnoea, pharyngitis, chest pain etc. Certain scientific studies have validated various pharmacological actions of these drugs as claimed by unani physicians. A concerted rational approach has been attempted to highlight the effect of the unani decoction as to its immune boosting property both as prophylactic and therapeutic use in the treatment of influenza like illness and COVID-19 like epidemics in the light of ancient Unani classics and recent scientific studies

The effect of inventory leanness on firms’ credit ratings: The case of Pakistan

Inventory leanness requires that firms minimize inventory mistreatment and misuse. A firm performance deteriorates because of high inventory misuse, and because of such an issue, the effect on the firm’s credit rating can also be seen. This study examines the effect of inventory leanness on firms’ credit ratings. It aims to create an understanding of the relationship between inventory leanness and the firm’s financial performance and provides insight into the credit rating system of Pakistan. We analyze secondary Pakistan data between 2008 and 2017. Among the sixty firms on Pakistan Stock Exchange that are rated by PACRA, only thirty-eight have complete data available on their respective websites. By using panel data analysis, the results indicate that inventory leanness and credit ratings are positively related. In an added analysis, we evaluate the financial performance in the context of credit rating by using control variables (size, leverage, and capital intensity ratio) and dummy variables (loss and subordinate debt). Our results are consistent with earlier studies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio