The impact of human capital on urban poverty: The case of Sargodha city

The positive relationship between human capital and income/wages has been supported by empirical research. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) enormously emphasize on human capital for curbing poverty. The economic development in East Asian countries is also linked with investment in education for the development of human capital. This study is designed to investigate the relationship of different levels of education and experience upon urban poverty at medium sized city in Pakistan such as Sargodha. A survey-based analysis was carried out on a sample of 330 households. Poverty status of the individual is defined by using adjusted official poverty line. Results show that education and experience is negatively related with the poverty status of individuals and this fact sustains even in separate gender estimates as well. This implies education of poor is necessary in breaking the vicious circle of poverty. Combined effort by public, private, community participation and NGO’s with special focus on elementary (Primary and middle) education is suggested for reducing poverty by increasing the productivity of the poor through education.Human Capital, Urban Poverty, Sargodha, Pakistan

Functional connectivity alterations in epilepsy from resting-state functional MRI

The study of functional brain connectivity alterations induced by neurological disorders and their analysis from resting state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rfMRI) is generally considered to be a challenging task. The main challenge lies in determining and interpreting the large-scale connectivity of brain regions when studying neurological disorders such as epilepsy. We tackle this challenging task by studying the cortical region connectivity using a novel approach for clustering the rfMRI time series signals and by identifying discriminant functional connections using a novel difference statistic measure. The proposed approach is then used in conjunction with the difference statistic to conduct automatic classification experiments for epileptic and healthy subjects using the rfMRI data. Our results show that the proposed difference statistic measure has the potential to extract promising discriminant neuroimaging markers. The extracted neuroimaging markers yield 93.08% classification accuracy on unseen data as compared to 80.20% accuracy on the same dataset by a recent state-of-the-art algorithm. The results demonstrate that for epilepsy the proposed approach confirms known functional connectivity alterations between cortical regions, reveals some new connectivity alterations, suggests potential neuroimaging markers, and predicts epilepsy with high accuracy from rfMRI scans.Scopu

Financial Satisfaction of International Students in Malaysia

Studying in a foreign country is the opportunity for the students for understanding the different cultures and advances new knowledge from different societies. The core aim of this research is to determine the financial satisfaction of international students in Malaysian universities. This data gathered from 288 oversease students of Malaysian universities by using convenience sampling method. This study utilized the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) for data analysis. The finding suggests that there is a significant effect of financial stress and financial and economic consideration on financial satisfaction of international students. This study also asserted that there is a significant effect of financial knowledge and family financial support on financial satisfaction. This research prone to some limitation such as cross-sectional method, and the convenience sampling method utilized in this current research. This study will beneficial for the government as well as policymakers to new rules and guidelines in favor of international students

The impact of human capital on urban poverty: The case of Sargodha city

The positive relationship between human capital and income/wages has been supported by empirical research. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) enormously emphasize on human capital for curbing poverty. The economic development in East Asian countries is also linked with investment in education for the development of human capital. This study is designed to investigate the relationship of different levels of education and experience upon urban poverty at medium sized city in Pakistan such as Sargodha. A survey-based analysis was carried out on a sample of 330 households. Poverty status of the individual is defined by using adjusted official poverty line. Results show that education and experience is negatively related with the poverty status of individuals and this fact sustains even in separate gender estimates as well. This implies education of poor is necessary in breaking the vicious circle of poverty. Combined effort by public, private, community participation and NGO’s with special focus on elementary (Primary and middle) education is suggested for reducing poverty by increasing the productivity of the poor through education

The impact of human capital on urban poverty: The case of Sargodha city

The positive relationship between human capital and income/wages has been supported by empirical research. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) enormously emphasize on human capital for curbing poverty. The economic development in East Asian countries is also linked with investment in education for the development of human capital. This study is designed to investigate the relationship of different levels of education and experience upon urban poverty at medium sized city in Pakistan such as Sargodha. A survey-based analysis was carried out on a sample of 330 households. Poverty status of the individual is defined by using adjusted official poverty line. Results show that education and experience is negatively related with the poverty status of individuals and this fact sustains even in separate gender estimates as well. This implies education of poor is necessary in breaking the vicious circle of poverty. Combined effort by public, private, community participation and NGO’s with special focus on elementary (Primary and middle) education is suggested for reducing poverty by increasing the productivity of the poor through education

Efficacy of Balloon Kyphoplasty in Compression Fractures of the Thoracolumbar Spine

Objective:  To study the Efficacy of Balloon Kyphoplasty in compression fractures of the thoracolumbar spine. Material and Methods:  This study was conducted on 95 patients with thoracolumbar wedge fractures from 2017 to 2022. Complete neurological examination and CT and MRI scans of the spine of all patients were done. All patients have been treated with a balloon kyphoplasty procedure. Data was collected on VAS score, SF-36 score, kyphotic angle and percentage of vertebral body destruction both preoperatively and post-operatively. Statistical analysis was done by using paired sample t-test. Results:  The mean age was 57 years. Males were 58.9% and females 41.0%. Osteoporosis was the cause of fracture in 90.5% and trauma in 9.4% of patients. VAS improved from 7.42 ± 1.24 to post-procedure 3.24 ± 1.51, P < 0.0001. SF-36 improved from 35.31 ± 17.4 to post-procedure 49.23 ± 19.2, P < 0.0001. Kyphosis angle restoration from 18.42 ± 7.41 to post-procedure 10.61 ± 6.32, P value < 0.0001. Percentage loss of vertebral height from 32.91% to postoperatively 17.64% (SD-17.2 and P < 0.0001). 10.5% of patients developed cement leakage and there is no leakage in 89.4%. The adjacent level fracture occurred in 4 patients. Conclusion:  Balloon Kyphoplasty is an effective procedure for thoracolumbar wedge fractures. It improves pain, activities of daily living, kyphosis angle improvement, and restoration of vertebral height

Influence of Image Acquisition on Radiation Dose and Image Quality: Full versus Narrow Phase Window Acquisition Using 320 MDCT

Purpose. To compare radiation dose and image quality using predefined narrow phase window versus complete phase window with dose modulation during R-R using 320-row MDCTA. Methods:. 114 patients underwent coronary CTA study using 320-row MDCT scanner. 87 patients with mean age (61 + 13 years), mean BMI (29 + 6), and mean heart rate (HR) (58 + 7 bpm) were imaged at predefined 66–80% R-R interval and then reconstructed at 75% while 27 patients with mean age (63 + 16 years), mean BMI (28 + 5), and mean HR (57 + 7 bpm) were scanned throughout the complete R-R interval with tube current modulation. The effective dose (ED) was calculated from dose length product (DLP) and conversion k (0.014 mSv/mGy/cm). Image quality was assessed using a three-point ordinal scale (1 = excellent, 2 = good, and 3 = nondiagnostic). Results:. Both groups were statistically similar to each other with reference of HR (P = 0.59), BMI (P = 0.17), and tube current mAs (P = 0.68). The median radiation dose was significantly higher in those scanned with complete R-R phase window versus narrow phase window (P < 0.0001). Independently of patient and scan parameters, increased phase window was associated with higher radiation dose (P < 0.001). Image quality was better among those scanned with narrow phase window versus complete phase window (P < 0.0001). Conclusion:. Our study supports that good HR control and predefined narrow window acquisition result in lower radiation dose without compromising diagnostic image quality for coronary disease evaluation

Analysis of nonlinear convection-radiation in chemically reactive Oldroyd-B nanoliquid configured by a stretching surface with Robin conditions: applications in nano-coating manufacturing

Motivated by emerging high-temperature manufacturing processes deploying nanopolymeric coatings, the present communication studies nonlinear thermally radiative OldroydB viscoelastic nanoliquid stagnant-point flow from a heated vertical stretching permeable surface. Robin (mixed derivative) conditions are utilized to better represent coating fabrication conditions. The nanoliquid analysis is based on Buongiorno's two-component model which elaborates Brownian movement and thermophoretic attributes. Nonlinear buoyancy force and thermal radiation formulations are included. Chemical reaction (constructive and destructive) is also considered since coating synthesis often features reactive transport phenomena. Via a similarity approach, an ordinary differential equation model is derived from the primitive partial differential boundary value problem. Analytical solutions are achieved employing homotopy analysis scheme. The influence of emerging dimensionless quantities on transport characteristics is comprehensively elaborated with appropriate data. The obtained analytical outcomes are compared with available limiting studies and good correlation is achieved. The computations show that the velocity profile is diminished with increasing relaxation parameter whereas it is enhanced when retardation parameter is increased. Larger thermophoresis parameter induces temperature and concentration enhancement. The heat and mass transfer rates at the wall are increased with an increment in temperature ratio and first order chemical reaction parameters while contrary effects are observed for larger thermophoresis, fluid relaxation and Brownian motion parameters. The simulations find applications in stagnation nano-polymeric coating of micromachines, robotic components and sensor

Outcome of Microsurgical Clipping of Ruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms

Objective: The objective of the study was to analyze the operative outcome of microsurgical clipping in Ruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms.Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with Ruptured Anterior Circulation aneurysms were treated with surgical clipping. All the patients were evaluated pre-operatively according to Hunt &amp; Hess and WFNS grading scales. Patients with grade I, II, and III were operated. All the aneurysms were clipped through Pterional approach under General anesthesia and Yasargil Aneurysm clips of appropriate sizes were used in each patient. Outcome was analyzed according to Glasgow Outcome Scale at the end of six months of follow up in each patient.Results: In this series of twenty cases, the mean patient age was 49 years. Lesion location included, the ACA/A. Com 55% (n = 11), the Middle Cerebral artery 25% (n = 5), P. Com 15% (n = 3), Ophthalmic artery 5% (n = 1). Sex distribution, female 55% (n = 11) and male 45% (n = 9). Per-operative complications, rupture of aneurysm 20% (n = 4), and damage to perforating branches of MCA 5% (n = 1).&nbsp;Conclusions: Surgical clipping still is the most efficient treatment of Ruptured Anterior Circulation aneurysm at the beginning of the new millennium. Anterior Communicating Artery is the commonest location of aneurysms. Major determinants of outcome are Hunt &amp; Hess, WFNS grades on admission and the age of the patient

Outcome of Microsurgical Clipping of Ruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms

Objective: The objective of the study was to analyze the operative outcome of microsurgical clipping in Ruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms.Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with Ruptured Anterior Circulation aneurysms were treated with surgical clipping. All the patients were evaluated pre-operatively according to Hunt &amp; Hess and WFNS grading scales. Patients with grade I, II, and III were operated. All the aneurysms were clipped through Pterional approach under General anesthesia and Yasargil Aneurysm clips of appropriate sizes were used in each patient. Outcome was analyzed according to Glasgow Outcome Scale at the end of six months of follow up in each patient.Results: In this series of twenty cases, the mean patient age was 49 years. Lesion location included, the ACA/A. Com 55% (n = 11), the Middle Cerebral artery 25% (n = 5), P. Com 15% (n = 3), Ophthalmic artery 5% (n = 1). Sex distribution, female 55% (n = 11) and male 45% (n = 9). Per-operative complications, rupture of aneurysm 20% (n = 4), and damage to perforating branches of MCA 5% (n = 1).&nbsp;Conclusions: Surgical clipping still is the most efficient treatment of Ruptured Anterior Circulation aneurysm at the beginning of the new millennium. Anterior Communicating Artery is the commonest location of aneurysms. Major determinants of outcome are Hunt &amp; Hess, WFNS grades on admission and the age of the patient