Relationship among Economic Growth and other Macroeconomic Variables: A Study of Pakistan

This study is investigating the short run and long run relationship among major macroeconomic variables and economic growth for the economy of Pakistan during 2000 - 2015. Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model and bounds test have been applied to estimate the short run and long run relationship between GDP and  other major macroeconomic variables like,  labour force, rate of capital formation, money supply, inflation rate, trade rate, foreign direct investment (FDI) and unemployment. ARDL model indicates significant relationship between labour force, FDI and unemployment economic growth, in the long run, at 1% and 5% level. Keywords: Macroeconomic variables; capital formation; money supply; inflation; trade; FDI; unemployment; economic growth; ARDL model. JEL Code: O1; O4; F43. DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/54-07 Publication date: April 30th 201

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Effect of Music on Consumer Emotions – An Analysis of Pakistani Restaurant Industry

Music is used for emotional control purposes and has been helpful in stress management and enhancing general well-being. Music could favourably affect consumers’ perceptions. The subject of this research is to see the connection between the music in Pakistani restaurants, as well as to analyse its impact on customer behaviour, and whether the music in the restaurant makes the customer pay more attention and make them spend more time in a restaurant. This study involved data collection and analysis from 395 Customers in a Pakistan restaurant industry. SmartPLS software was used to analyse the outcomes after data collection, and the conceptual framework was validated using structural equation modelling (SEM) and factor analysis. Based on our findings, background music and customers’ emotions are positively related. Further, results indicate that music is favourably connected to spending more time and money in the restaurant of Pakistan, with themediation from consumers’ emotions. Background Music may aid in the growth of the Pakistan Restaurant industry since the findings of this study imply that customers will spend more money and time there due to the music. This study also suggests future research subjects on the evolution of the restaurant industry as a result of consumer emotion

CRISPR/Cas9 mediated TaRPK1 root architecture gene mutagenesis confers enhanced wheat yield

CRISPR/Cas9 system has emerged as an efficient tool for sustainable crop improvement. Roots are the “principal hidden organ” that has a crucial function in vascular plants. Receptor-like protein kinase 1 (RPK1) has been reported to regulate root architecture system (RAS), abiotic stress, and yield both in Arabidopsis and rice. We employed a CRISPR/Cas9-based system, namely LR-1 and LR-2 constructs having double guided RNAs transformed via agrobacterium for targeted mutagenesis of TaRPK1 genes to alter the root architecture and hence yield in Triticum aestivum. Sequencing confirmed seven CRISPR/Cas9-based mutated T0 lines of LR-1 constructs and six T0 lines of LR-2 constructs, with an overall mutation efficiency of 41.93%. The T0 plants displayed higher monoallelic mutation compared to the diallelic mutation. 37.5% monoallelic mutation at target site 1 within the D genome by gRNA1 was observed by the LR-1 construct. The LR-2 constructs showed a higher monoallelic mutation frequency of 26.67% at target sites 1 and 2 within A, B, and D genomes. The deletions were mainly short, however longer deletions such as 12d, 17d, 19d, and 20d were detected by gRNA2 of LR-1 construct. Transgenic lines revealed significant alteration in morphology and RSA with a significant increase in number of effective tillers, grain weight, root length, root depth, root volume, and root surface area while reduced root diameter, root angle, and spike length, compared to the wild plants. Tillers and total grain weight increased significantly, suggesting edited lines increased grain production by decreasing spike length. The study validates that CRISPR/Cas9 mediated targeted editing of TaRPK1 is a practical approach for modifying RAS and hence yield enhancement in wheat

Genome-Wide Identification, Genomic Organization, and Characterization of Potassium Transport-Related Genes in <i>Cajanus cajan</i> and Their Role in Abiotic Stress

Potassium is the most important and abundant inorganic cation in plants and it can comprise up to 10% of a plant’s dry weight. Plants possess complex systems of transporters and channels for the transport of K+ from soil to numerous parts of plants. Cajanus cajan is cultivated in different regions of the world as an economical source of carbohydrates, fiber, proteins, and fodder for animals. In the current study, 39 K+ transport genes were identified in C. cajan, including 25 K+ transporters (17 carrier-like K+ transporters (KUP/HAK/KTs), 2 high-affinity potassium transporters (HKTs), and 6 K+ efflux transporters (KEAs) and 14 K+ channels (9 shakers and 5 tandem-pore K+ channels (TPKs). Chromosomal mapping indicated that these genes were randomly distributed among 10 chromosomes. A comparative phylogenetic analysis including protein sequences from Glycine max, Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Medicago truncatula Cicer arietinum, and C. cajan suggested vital conservation of K+ transport genes. Gene structure analysis showed that the intron/exon organization of K+ transporter and channel genes is highly conserved in a family-specific manner. In the promoter region, many cis-regulatory elements were identified related to abiotic stress, suggesting their role in abiotic stress response. Abiotic stresses (salt, heat, and drought) adversely affect chlorophyll, carotenoids contents, and total soluble proteins. Furthermore, the activities of catalase, superoxide, and peroxidase were altered in C. cajan leaves under applied stresses. Expression analysis (RNA-seq data and quantitative real-time PCR) revealed that several K+ transport genes were expressed in abiotic stress-responsive manners. The present study provides an in-depth understanding of K+ transport system genes in C. cajan and serves as a basis for further characterization of these genes

Genome-Wide Identification, Genomic Organization, and Characterization of Potassium Transport-Related Genes in Cajanus cajan and Their Role in Abiotic Stress

Potassium is the most important and abundant inorganic cation in plants and it can comprise up to 10% of a plant’s dry weight. Plants possess complex systems of transporters and channels for the transport of K+ from soil to numerous parts of plants. Cajanus cajan is cultivated in different regions of the world as an economical source of carbohydrates, fiber, proteins, and fodder for animals. In the current study, 39 K+ transport genes were identified in C. cajan, including 25 K+ transporters (17 carrier-like K+ transporters (KUP/HAK/KTs), 2 high-affinity potassium transporters (HKTs), and 6 K+ efflux transporters (KEAs) and 14 K+ channels (9 shakers and 5 tandem-pore K+ channels (TPKs). Chromosomal mapping indicated that these genes were randomly distributed among 10 chromosomes. A comparative phylogenetic analysis including protein sequences from Glycine max, Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Medicago truncatula Cicer arietinum, and C. cajan suggested vital conservation of K+ transport genes. Gene structure analysis showed that the intron/exon organization of K+ transporter and channel genes is highly conserved in a family-specific manner. In the promoter region, many cis-regulatory elements were identified related to abiotic stress, suggesting their role in abiotic stress response. Abiotic stresses (salt, heat, and drought) adversely affect chlorophyll, carotenoids contents, and total soluble proteins. Furthermore, the activities of catalase, superoxide, and peroxidase were altered in C. cajan leaves under applied stresses. Expression analysis (RNA-seq data and quantitative real-time PCR) revealed that several K+ transport genes were expressed in abiotic stress-responsive manners. The present study provides an in-depth understanding of K+ transport system genes in C. cajan and serves as a basis for further characterization of these genes