Library and Information Science Research at University of Karachi, Pakistan from 2000 to 2022: A bibliometric analysis

The study aimed to evaluate the bibliometric research of Library and Information Science (LIS) research contributed by the authors affiliated with the University of Karachi (UoK), Pakistan. The dataset was limited to 22 years from January 2000 to December 2021 and a list of evaluated papers has been proved from various online and print sources. Google Scholar has been employed to access the record of citation(s). Ninety-two papers were identified with at least one author affiliated with the UoK on the subject category of LIS and these papers were cited 707 times. Two-author collaboration was found to be the preferred authorship pattern and the papers written in this pattern got a better citation result. A number of research articles\u27 contributions have been found that female authors are more than male authors. Syed Jalaluddin Haider, Munira Nasreen Ansari and Farhat Hussain emerged as the most prolific authors with 26, 25 and 15 papers, respectively. The papers published in international journals got higher citations and about three-fourth of the papers were published in the top 11 sources which in found from these research. The subject dispersion revealed that LIS Education and Library Management were the favorite areas. The characteristics of the ten most cited papers revealed that 60% citations were gained by these papers. The findings of this paper support understanding the research trends in LIS at UoK. There is a need to accelerate the research activities, revisit the research policies and promote the research culture in the UoK

Pattern and Magnitude of Utilization of Information Resource Facilities and Services at Health Sciences Library in the Midst of COVID – 19 Pandemic

Background: Medical librarians support curriculum and research by delivering appropriate and high-quality information and facilities to students and faculty members. COVID-19 pandemic disrupted physical teaching and learning worldwide endorsing virtual education which was supported by digital information resources. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent of utilization of physical and digital learning resources along with customer satisfaction in a health science library before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online self-administered questionnaire was administered using Microsoft Forms to students and faculty members. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24. Qualitative variables were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. A Chi-square test was carried out to compare customers’ satisfaction with the utilization of information resources before and during the pandemic. A p-value \u3c 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: A total of 230 participants were included in the study. The library was visited by 18.7% and 26.1% of customers daily, and weekly respectively before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, none of them used the library daily during a pandemic, while digital library usage increased during this time. A significant reduction in the level of customers’ satisfaction was observed with the physical library services in coronavirus outbreaks compared to satisfaction before the pandemic, p=0.028. Participants were satisfied with the utilization of digital library services during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period, p= 0.024. Conclusion: The use of digital libraries surged during the pandemic resulting in a rapid adaptation of electronic books and journals. Librarians\u27 have played a vital role in the current catastrophe by improving awareness of stakeholders regarding e-resources

Biopsy Proven Renal Morphology Cognizance into its Four-Year Evolving Pattern; A Pakistani Perspective

Objective: To determine the pattern of Biopsy Proven Renal Diseases (BPRD) in a single tertiary care centre in Islamabad, Pakistan. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Nephrology, KRL Hospital, Islamabad Pakistan, from Mar 2016 to Nov 2020. Methodology: The archival records of all native renal biopsies performed in adults (>18 years) were retrospectively analyzed.The biopsies were performed according to standard indications and evaluated by light microscopy and immunofluorescence. Results: A total of 134 renal biopsies were studied. Among these, 85(61.1 %) were males, and 49(36.5 %) were females. The mean age was 44.70±14.63 years. Primary glomerulonephritis’s were the predominant group of diseases found in 93(69.4%) cases. Membranous nephropathy (MN) was the most common lesion in 52(38.8%), followed by focal segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in 22(16.4%) cases. Chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis (Ch. TIN) 12(9.0%) was the third most common lesion among all biopsies. Other diagnoses included lupus nephritis (LN) 10(7.5%) and IgA nephropathy (IgAN) 9(6.7%). One sample one-sided t-test was used to estimate the minimum proportion of occurrence of different biopsies in our concerned population. The estimated minimum proportion of membranous nephropathy (MN) was 0.31, with a p-value of 0.034. Conclusion: We concluded that primary Glomerulonephritis (PGN) is the most common renal disease, and membranous nephropathy is the most common biopsy-proven Glomerulopathy in our concerned population

15+ MILLION TOP 1% MOST CITED SCIENTIST 12.2% AUTHORS AND EDITORS FROM TOP 500 UNIVERSITIES Antifungal Activity of Essential Oils Extracted From Clove, Cumin and Cinnamon Against Blue Mold Disease on Citrus Fruit

Abstract Essential oils obtained from Cumin seeds, Clove buds and Cinnamon bark was checked for their antifungal potentials against Penicillium italicum, causal agent of blue mold disease in citrus fruit. Selected essential oils were checked in different concentrations of 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48µl/ml for their ability to inhibit the mycelial growth of the test fungi. The in vitro study revealed that the essential oils of cumin and clove have the potential to inhibit mycelial growth of test fungi completely at concentrations of 12 and 48µl/ml, respectively. Essential oil of cinnamon, however failed to completely inhibit the mycelial growth even at maximum used concentration of 48µl/ml. In vivo assays also supported these results. Clove and cumin oils showed complete fungal inhibition at concentration of 24 and 48µl/ml, respectively when applied on citrus fruits. Whereas, cinnamon essential oil could not stop fungal infection even at its highest tested concentration. The study was extended to chemical identification of tested essential oils through GC-MS

Antifungal Activity of Essential Oils Extracted From Clove, Cumin and Cinnamon Against Blue Mold Disease on Citrus Fruit

Abstract Essential oils obtained from Cumin seeds, Clove buds and Cinnamon bark was checked for their antifungal potentials against Penicillium italicum, causal agent of blue mold disease in citrus fruit. Selected essential oils were checked in different concentrations of 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48µl/ml for their ability to inhibit the mycelial growth of the test fungi. The in vitro study revealed that the essential oils of cumin and clove have the potential to inhibit mycelial growth of test fungi completely at concentrations of 12 and 48µl/ml, respectively. Essential oil of cinnamon, however failed to completely inhibit the mycelial growth even at maximum used concentration of 48µl/ml. In vivo assays also supported these results. Clove and cumin oils showed complete fungal inhibition at concentration of 24 and 48µl/ml, respectively when applied on citrus fruits. Whereas, cinnamon essential oil could not stop fungal infection even at its highest tested concentration. The study was extended to chemical identification of tested essential oils through GC-MS

Impact of Tourism Receipts, FDI and Energy Usage on Economic Growth in South Asia

Purpose: The study examines the significant and direct influence of FDI and tourism income on economic growth in selected South Asian countries. . Design/Methodology/Approach: The study has made use of ARDL regression methodology to analyze the influence of tourism receipts, FDI and energy usage on economic growth.Findings: This study shows a strong long-term FDI, tourist receipts, and energy links, whereas the effects of these variables are less valuable in the short term.Implications/Originality/Value: It is generally recognized that FDI accompanies general economic expansion, the development of tourism, and the use of energy around the globe. However, several empirical outcomes have been disclosed in a long-standing discussion.&nbsp

Economic Growth, Environmental Efficiency, and Industrial Transfer Demonstration Zones of China: A Way Forward for CPEC

Environmental efficiency, industrial transfer demonstration zones, and carbon transfer networks can impact the quality of the environment. This paper examines the relationship between environmental efficiency, carbon transfer networks, and national industrial transfer demonstration zones tested by utilizing some prefectural-level Chinese cities’ panel data from 2003 to 2017 through the Different-in-Difference method as way forward for China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The results show that environmental efficiency improved with industrial transfer demonstration zones by boosting the ability to innovate, government’s expenditure on the environment, and regulatory frameworks for the environment. The findings reflect a significant increase in the GDP of the triennial industry while an insignificant decrease. Hence, to promote all-inclusive first-rate development, regional collaborative must be ensured during industrial transformation demonstration

The Covid-19 outbreak, a Failure of Social Protection System: A Policy Perspective of Energy and Economic Recovery

COVID-19 has proliferated personage suffering around the world. The virus is contagious medically and economically as well. The study's main aim is to examine the failure of the social protection system caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Three major dimensions of the social protection system have been addressed in this research—a shock to the labor market, health emergency, and massive change in energy usage. Covid pandemic had cost the world economy more than $2 trillion. The labor market is badly affected significantly; workers engaged in the informal economy. The Director-General (WHO) has declared the COVID-19 pandemic as a public health emergency of international concern. It is one of the highest levels of alarm by WHO in history. Global Energy Review 2020 shows that those complete lockdowns have a 25% decline in the energy demand per week. As economic activity slowdown due to the closure of the industry, banned transportation, and lockdown. Conclusively, it is examined that the coronavirus pandemic has brought a worldwide failure of social protection system required a comprehensive policy and a firmed leadership to stand against the outbreak

Isolation and characterization of antihypertensive peptides from soy bean protein

Proteins and peptides are the most diverse biomolecules found in nature and make our interest due to their wide applications in food and pharmaceutical industry. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) plays a major role in controlling blood pressure. The inhibition of ACE with peptides is a main target in the regulation of hypertension. The objective of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of soy bean. This was accomplished by isolation of ACE inhibitory peptides using response surface methodology (RSM) and characterization of these bioactive peptides by mass spectrometry. 31 hydrolyzed fractions were isolated and evaluated for their ACE inhibition potential. Hydrolyzed fraction having highest ACE inhibitory activity was characterized by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technique. RSM results showed maximum ACE inhibition potential (64%) by hydrolyzate was obtained at 45 ºC temperature, pH 8.0, E/S 0.2 in 2 hours hydrolysis time. Results of LC-MS analysis revealed Ser-Gly, Ser-Pro, Met-Ala, His-Ala, Lys-Pro, Phe-Thr, Met-Leu, Pro-Arg, Ala-Pro-Val, Pro-Ala-Leu, Val-Met-Gly, Pro-Leu-Val, Pro-Pro-Gln, His-Arg-Gly, Ser-Phe-Val-Leu, Ala-Val-His-Try, Arg-Thr-Val-Arg, His-His-Tyr-Leu-Val, Asp-Gly-Ala-Cys-Ser-Ala-Asn and MetVal-Thr-Gly-Pro-Gly-Cys-His bioactive peptides in hydrolyzed fraction of soy bean. Our data provide evidence that response surface methodology is a good approach for isolation of antihypertensive bioactive peptides with more potent activity as nutraceuticals or pharmaceuticals. Therefore soy bean can be use for industrial production of pharmaceutical grade natural medicines for handling high blood pressure