Forecasting volatility and Value-at-Risk of the Karachi Stock Exchange 100 index: Comparing distribution-type and asymmetry-type models

We investigate the daily volatility and Value-at-Risk (VaR) forecasts for the Karachi Stock Exchange 100 Index (KSE-100) series from 1998 to 2008. The forecasting performance of the distribution-type volatility models (GARCH-N, -t, -SGT, and -HT) are compared with that of asymmetry-type models (GJR-GARCH and EGARCH) in order to ascertain the crucial determinants for improving forecast accuracy of daily volatility and VaR. Empirical results indicate that the GARCH-HT and GARCH-SGT models generate far more accurate daily volatility forecasts as compared to their competitors. For VaR calculation, the GARCH-t and GARCH-SGT are the appropriate models to predict the daily VaRs of KSE-100 stock index under high confidence level

Sustainability Check of Microfinance Institutions during Financial Crisis: Evidence from Pakistan

The study scrutinizes the efficiency and sustainability of Microfinance Institutions in Pakistan during financial crisis era for 2008 and 2009. For this progression, firstly Data Envelopment Analysis is applied to quantify efficiency and then sustainability check is tested. The results reveal that due to macroeconomic shocks, portfolio quality has been affected. More microfinance activities are being done in Punjab and Sindh whereas such high concentration increases multiple borrowing in market

Varying degrees of advanced heart blocks in association with acute inferior myocardial infarction

Acute inferior myocardial infarction (MI) is often associated with heart blocks as acute occlusion of the right coronary artery (RCA) compromises flow to sinoatrial nodal and atrioventricular nodal branches that arise from the proximal and distal parts of RCA, respectively. This phenomenon can happen in up to 20% of the cases, is usually transient and rarely requires pacemaker implantation. Still, when present, it raises alarms and poses significant monitoring and management challenges to the physicians. We report a similar case where the patient presented with inferior MI complicated by complete heart block. The patient went through varying degrees of advanced heart blocks before finally reverting to normal sinus rhythm. Subsequent coronary angiogram showed total thrombotic occlusion of proximal RCA. To the best of our knowledge, such a case has not been described before in literature where a complete array of heart blocks is reported in the context of acute MI. This case illustrates the importance of recognizing advanced heart blocks in acute MI. Although usually transient, these arrhythmias need careful monitoring during the initial days after MI

Interactions of short chain phenylalkanoic acids within ionic surfactant micelles in aqueous media

% SDS KR nema Solubilization and interactions of phenylalkanoic acids induced by cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was investigated spectrophotometrically at 25.0°C. The UV spectra of the additives (acids) were measured with and without surfactant above and below critical micelle concentration (cmc) of the surfactant. The presence of alkyl chain in phenylalkanoic acids is responsible for hydrophobic interaction resulting in shift of the spectra towards longer wavelength (red shift). The value of partition coefficient (Kx) between the bulk water and surfactant micelles and in turn standard free energy change of solubilization (ΔGpº) were also estimated by measuring the differential absorbance (ΔA) of the additives in micellar solutions

Women’s Empowerment and Antenatal Care Utilization in Pakistan

This study aimed at examining the role of women’s empowerment in antenatal care utilization among married women in Pakistan. The population of the study was based on secondary data from the Pakistan Demographic Health Survey 2017-18. A sample of 6,996 married women was selected, and the women reported their antenatal visits in the last five years. The descriptive, Chi-square, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression methods were used for data analysis through SPSS. The results of the study showed that only 15% of women had adequate antenatal visits. Bivariate analysis showed that women who had higher income status, higher education, and were working in managerial positions had significantly adequate antenatal health care (

Sustainability Check of Microfinance Institutions during Financial Crisis: Evidence from Pakistan

The study scrutinizes the efficiency and sustainability of Microfinance Institutions in Pakistan during financial crisis era for 2008 and 2009. For this progression, firstly Data Envelopment Analysis is applied to quantify efficiency and then sustainability check is tested. The results reveal that due to macroeconomic shocks, portfolio quality has been affected. More microfinance activities are being done in Punjab and Sindh whereas such high concentration increases multiple borrowing in market

Sewing Needle as Foreign Body in Urethra of an Adolescent Boy: Case Report

Self-insertion of a foreign body in the urethra is an uncommon presentation clinically. The cases usually arise due to fulfillment of sexual desire, for recreation, play, or exploration, or the foreign body insertion may take place accidentally. We present a case of an adolescent boy with a foreign body urethra presenting to the emergency room with urinary retention, pain, and dysuria. Attending urologist suspected urethral stricture and ordered ultrasonography to investigate which turned out to be a sewing needle in his urethra. The patient was then enquired about the foreign body. He tried to self-dilate his urethra as he was experiencing lower urinary tract symptoms. The sewing needle was removed by endoscopy and he was administered with antibiotics and painkillers. The urethral foreign bodies may present with pain, dysuria, or urinary incontinence and these foreign bodies are mostly seen in the male population in the adolescent age group

Potential Strategies for Improving Pain Management in the Opioid Patients: The Clinical Challenge

The rates of opioid prescription and use have continued to increase over the last few decades. In turn, a greater number of patients suffer from opioid tolerance. Treatment of acute pain is a clinical challenge for these patients. Acute pain can arise from common occurrences like surgical pain and pain resulting from the injury. P-glycoprotein (p-gp) is a transporter at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) associated with a decrease in the analgesic efficacy of morphine. Peripheral inflammatory pain (PIP) is a pain state known to cause a change in p-gp trafficking at the BBB. P-gp traffics from the nucleus to the luminal surface of endothelial cells making up the BBB. This surface where circulating blood interfaces with the endothelial cell is where p-gp will efflux morphine back into circulation. Osmotic minipumps were used as a long-term delivery method in this model of opioid tolerance in female rats. PIP induced p-gp trafficking away from nuclear stores showed a 2-fold increase when animals were exposed to opioids for 6 days. This observation presents a possible relationship between p-gp trafficking and the challenges of treating post-surgical pain in opioid tolerant patients. This could reveal potential strategies for improving pain management in these patients