Factors Influencing on Stock Market in Pakistan

The stock market is an economic institution that promotes the growth and development of the economy of a nation. This paper investigated the impact of inflation on stock market performance .The aim of this research to find out factors which have great impact on stock market performance of any country. This study discusses the main variable like interest rate and inflation rate and their effect on stock market performance. This study investigated that interest and inflation rate has significant negative relation with stock market performance, while in regression analysis it has been observed that the value of R2 = 0.62 means model is fit and can predict outcome. This study provides valuable knowledge to the government, economist and shareholders to jug the position of stock market for investment purpose. Keywords: Stock Market Performance, Inflation Rate, Interest Rat

Estimation of Some Genetic Parameters and Inter-Relationship of Grain Yield and Yield Related Attributes in Certain Exotic Lines of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. )

To estimates the heritability, genetic advance and interrelationship of yield and yield related attribute in certain exotic lines of wheat introduced from ICARDA (International Center for Agriculture Research in Dry Areas), a field experiment was carried out in the research area of Plant Breeding and Genetic, PMAS, University of Arid Agricultural Rawalpindi during 2010-11. The research materials comprised of twenty three wheat genotypes including a local check variety (Chakwal 97) were planted in randomized completed block design with three replications.  Data were recorded and analyzed on plant height, days to maturity, No. of tillers m-2, spike length, 1000 grain weight, and grain yield Kg/ha. The genotypes were highly significant for all the traits except for days to maturity where non significantly difference was observed. Maximum broad sense heritability was observed for grain yield per plot (93.34) while minimum value (7.82) was recorded for days to maturity. Value of genetic advance range from minimum 0.23 for days to maturity to maximum (589.49) for grain yield (Kg/ha) was assessed. Genotypic correlation coefficient was observed greater in magnitude has compared to phonotypic correlation coefficient in maximum character pairs. Phonotypic and genotypic correlation coefficient of grain yield with No. spikelets/spike, days to maturity, No. of tillers/m2 and No. of grains/spike was observed positive and significant whereas plant height and spike length was found has deterrent traits for grain yield improvement because these characters showed negative association with grain yield. Keywords: Heritability, Genetic Advance, Phenotypic Correlation, Genotypic Correlation, Whea

Performance Based Evaluation and Selection of Different Promising Lines of Rapeseed (Brassica Napus L.) for the Shattering Tolerance

To evaluate the ten promising lines of Brassica napus against the shattering tolerance, the experiments were carried out in split plot design in the research area of Barani Agricultural Research Institute; Chakwal, Pakistan during two rabi growing season 2011-12 & 2012-13 under rainfed conditions. The main plot was harvested in five different harvesting dates including: HarD1 = Harvesting at physiological maturity of crop, HarD2= 7 days after the first harvesting of each promising line, HarD3= 15 days after the first harvesting of each promising line, HarD4= 21 days after the first harvesting of each promising line, HarD5= 30 days after the first harvesting of each promising line. The difference of grain yield (kg/ha) of each promising line in different harvesting dates with compare to its grain yield (kg/ha) in first harvesting date (HarD1-HarDi) were measured as indices of shattering. The combine analysis of variance of two year revealed that all the promising lines were significant different for harvesting date, harvesting date x promising lines interaction effect and also year and its interaction effects to each study factors. In the present experiment, the promising line 12CBN008 & 10CBN004 had grain yield 1089 kg/ha & 897 kg/ha respectively. The significant difference of genotypes x harvesting dates confirmed different level of shattering of all promising lines in different harvesting dates. The magnitude of grain yield shattering loss was increased in 4th and 5th harvesting dates. On the basis of shattering tolerance among all the promising lines the 11CBN010 was more tolerant to shattering and 11CBN005 were relatively more susceptible to shattering. Keywords: Rapeseed, Harvesting date, Shattering toleranc

Cross Sectional Study and Risk Factors Analysis of Francisella tularensis in Soil Samples in Punjab Province of Pakistan

Tularemia is an endemic zoonotic disease in many parts of the world including Asia. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine genome-based prevalence of Francisella tularensis (Ft) in soil, assess an association between its occurrence in soil and likely predictors i.e., macro and micro-nutrients and several categorical variables, and determine seroconversion in small and large ruminants. The study included a total of 2,280 soil samples representing 456 villages in eight districts of the Punjab Province of Pakistan followed by an analysis of serum antibodies in 707 ruminants. The genome of Ft was detected in 3.25% (n = 74, 95% CI: 2.60–4.06) of soil samples. Soluble salts (OR: 1.276, 95% CI: 1.043–1.562, p = 0.015), Ni (OR: 2.910, 95%CI: 0.795–10.644, p = 0.106), Mn (OR:0.733, 95% CI:0.565–0.951, p = 0.019), Zn (OR: 4.922, 95% CI:0.929–26.064, p = 0.061) and nutrients clustered together as PC-1 (OR: 4.76, 95% CI: 2.37–9.54, p = 0.000) and PC-3 (OR: 0.357, 95% CI: 0.640, p = 0.001) were found to have a positive association for the presence of Ft in soil. The odds of occurrence of Ft DNA in soil were higher at locations close to a water source, including canals, streams or drains, [χ2 = 6.7, OR = 1.19, 95% CI:1.05–3.09, p = 0.004] as well as places where animals were present [χ2 = 4.09, OR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.05–4.05, p = 0.02]. The seroconversion was detected in 6.22% (n = 44, 95% CI: 4.67–8.25) of domestic animals. An occurrence of Ft over a wide geographical region indicates its expansion to enzootic range, and demonstrates the need for further investigation among potential disease reservoirs and at-risk populations, such as farmers and veterinarians

Prevalence and demographics of anxiety disorders: a snapshot from a community health centre in Pakistan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The developing world is faced with a high burden of anxiety disorders. The exact prevalence of anxiety disorders in Pakistan is not known. There is a need to develop an evidence base to aid policy development on tackling anxiety and depressive disorders in the country. This is the first pilot study to address the prevalence of anxiety disorders and their association with sociodemographic factors in Pakistan.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional study was conducted among people visiting Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), a tertiary care facility in Karachi, Pakistan. The point prevalence of anxiety amongst the sample population, which comprised of patients and their attendants, excluding all health care personnel, was assessed using the validated Urdu version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The questionnaire was administered to 423 people. Descriptive statistics were performed for mean scores and proportions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean anxiety score of the population was 5.7 ± 3.86. About 28.3% had borderline or pathological anxiety. The factors found to be independently predicted with anxiety were, female sex (odds ratio (OR) = 2.14, 95% CI 1.36–3.36, p = 0.01); physical illness (OR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.06–2.64, p = 0.026); and psychiatric illness (OR = 1.176, 95% CI 1.0–3.1, p = 0.048). In the final multivariate model, female sex (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2, 95% CI 1.28–3.22) and physical illness (AOR = 1.56, 95% CI 0.97–2.48) were found to be significant.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Further studies via nationally representative surveys need to be undertaken to fully grasp the scope of this emerging public health issue in Pakistan.</p

From textbooks to online sources: An Investigation of drug information resource preference and utilization among healthcare Professionals

Background: Providing drug information (DI) is one of the essential pharmaceutical care services. Previous research has documented varying DI preferences and utilization practices among Healthcare Professionals (HCPs). This study aimed to determine the preference and utilization of DI resources among HCPs and identify the main barriers that impede their ability to utilize them. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in selected government, private hospitals, and primary healthcare clinics. A thirteen-item survey instrument was developed to assess the utilization, accessibility, preferences, and satisfaction with various DI resources and barriers. HCPs meeting the inclusion criteria were identified and contacted. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 27. Results: 311 responses were considered for the final analysis. Most HCPs who contributed to this survey were pharmacists, nurses, and physicians. Google was the most frequently used reference resource, at 64.3% (n = 200), followed by other subscription-based databases at 36% (n = 112) and package inserts at 30.5% (n = 95). UpToDate was the most commonly used database, i.e., 42.1% (n = 131) (RII = 0.749196). Treatment was the most common category of DI, and 69.8% (n = 217) searched (RII = 0.899517). Lack of time, 46% (n = 201), was the most limiting factor for seeking DI. Variables such as work experience, practice setting, education level, and continuing medical education hours were the significant (p < 0.05) predictors of some DI utilization components and preferences. Conclusion: This study shows differences in preference and utilization of drug information resources (DIR) by HCPs, depending upon their clinical practice and background. Therefore, educational strategies are needed to empower HCPs about DIR

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a kidney transplant recipient; case report

Patients with kidney transplants are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 because of long-term immunosuppression and may end up with severe disease with adverse outcome. The experiences of COVID-19 management in kidney transplant recipients are limited. This is a case of COVID-19 in a 45-year-old patient with a second renal transplant on triple immunosuppressive therapy who was successfully treated for COVID-19, septic shock, acute kidney injury and was discharged with a stable graft function. The patient presented with mild COVID-19 symptoms but later went into septic shock followed by acute kidney injury due to a secondary bacterial infection. The patient was successfully managed using antivirals, corticosteroids, reducing the dose of immunosuppressants initially, then discontinuing all the immunosuppressants in view of septic shock and finally reinstating the immunosuppression gradually on clinical improvement. This case report may serve as a reference for treating immunocompromised kidney transplant recipients having COVID-19. However, more data and experiences are needed for optimization of treatment of kidney transplant recipients with COVID-19

1-Anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) is not a desirable probe for determining the molten globule state of chymopapain.

The molten globule (MG) state of proteins is widely detected through binding with 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulphonate (ANS), a fluorescent dye. This strategy is based upon the assumption that when in molten globule state, the exposed hydrophobic clusters of protein are readily bound by the nonpolar anilino-naphthalene moiety of ANS molecules which then produce brilliant fluorescence. In this work, we explored the acid-induced unfolding pathway of chymopapain, a cysteine proteases from Carica papaya, by monitoring the conformational changes over a pH range 1.0-7.4 by circular dichroism, intrinsic fluorescence, ANS binding, acrylamide quenching, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The spectroscopic measurements showed that although maximum ANS fluorescence intensity was observed at pH 1.0, however protein exhibited ∼80% loss of secondary structure which does not comply with the characteristics of a typical MG-state. In contrast at pH 1.5, chymopapain retains substantial amount of secondary structure, disrupted side chain interactions, increased hydrodynamic radii and nearly 30-fold increase in ANS fluorescence with respect to the native state, indicating that MG-state exists at pH 1.5 and not at pH 1.0. ITC measurements revealed that ANS molecules bound to chymopapain via hydrophobic interaction were more at pH 1.5 than at pH 1.0. However, a large number of ANS molecules were also involved in electrostatic interaction with protein at pH 1.0 which, together with hydrophobically interacted molecules, may be responsible for maximum ANS fluorescence. We conclude that maximum ANS-fluorescence alone may not be the criteria for determining the MG of chymopapain. Hence a comprehensive structural analysis of the intermediate is essentially required