Macroeconomic Factors and Pakistani Equity Market

This paper analyzes long-term equilibrium relationships between a group of macroeconomic variables and the Karachi Stock Exchange Index. The macroeconomic variables are represented by the industrial production index, the consumer price index, M1, and the value of an investment earning the money market rate. We employ a vector error correction model to explore such relationships during 1973:1 to 2004:4. We found that these five variables are cointegrated and two long-term equilibrium relationships exist among these variables. Our results indicated a "causal" relationship between the stock market and the economy. Analysis of our results indicates that industrial production is the largest positive determinant of Pakistani stock prices, while inflation is the largest negative determinant of stock prices in Pakistan. We found that while macroeconomic variables Granger-caused stock price movements, the reverse causality was observed in case of industrial production and stock prices. Furthermore, we found that statistically significant lag lengths between fluctuations in the stock market and changes in the real economy are relatively short.Financial Market, Pakistan, Stock Market

Review on Live animal and Meat Marketing and Production in Ethiopia

This paper reviews research works done on livestock and meat marketing opportunities and challenges in Ethiopia. Moreover, this paper has tried to assess secondary data collected from Ethiopian custom and revenue authority (ECRA) and central statistical agency (CSA) in order to analyze the export and to get a more insight on the livestock production system by smallholders. Live animal and meat export to Middle East and neighboring countries is increasing. The increasing number of live animal and meat exporter, geographic proximity to the Middle East countries, economic growth, government interest and support to the sub sector gives the country comparative advantages in livestock and livestock product trading. However, traditional production system, poor market infrastructure, lack of market information and extension service, trans-boundary disease outbreaks, long and complicated market chain, and illegal cross border trade are affecting the sub-sector performance to the economy and livelihood improvement. Keywords: Live animal, Meat, Marketing, Export, Production DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/77-02 Publication date:March 31st 202

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Related to Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Among Students in Universiti Putra Malaysia

The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge, attitude and practices related to HIV/AIDS among the students in UPM and to determine the relationship between their knowledge, attitudes and practices. A cross-sectional study design which employed two stage simple random sampling technique proportionate to size was used to select the sample. The list of all 23,202 students of UPM served as the sampling frame. The sample size was 1920. The data was collected from 10th 0f August to 31st of October 2007 using a structured pre-tested questionnaire. The response rate was 92.3 % in which, out of 1773 respondents, 57.3% were female, 52.5% were Malays and 58.2% were Muslims. The overall mean knowledge scores of the respondents was 20.11 out of the maximum score of 34 while the mean attitude scores was 24.09 out of the maximum score of 35,and the mean practice scores of the respondents was 4.14 out of the maximum score of 7. The results of the GLM (General Linear Model) and Post Hoc Test showed that knowledge of the respondents on HIV/AIDS was significantly associated with age (p = 0.001), sex (p = 0.004), educational level (p = 0.04), faculty or institute (p = 0.001), religion (p = 0.008), mother’s occupation (p = 0.045), mother’s educational level (p = 0.039) and family income (p = 0.001). The results also showed that the attitude of respondents on HIV/AIDS was significantly associated with faculty or institute (p = 0.001), father’s occupation (p = 0.028) and the practice of the respondents with regards to HIV/AIDS was significantly associated with sex (p = 0.001), faculty or institute (p = 0.001) and marital status (p = 0.009). The results show that there was a significant but weak and positive relationship between the total knowledge scores and the total attitude scores of the respondents (r = 0.24, p = 0.001). There was also a significant but weak and negative relationship between the total knowledge scores and the total practice scores of the respondents (r = -0.059, p = 0.021). In conclusion, this study showed that the level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS among UPM students is unsatisfactory. The respondents seem to have favorable attitude on the prevention of HIV/AIDS. There was a low level of condom use (29.8 %) and voluntary HIV testing (13.48 %). However, 97.8 % of the respondents do not have multiple partners. The practice scores for Malaysian students were significantly higher than the international students. It is recommended that an educational program on HIV/AIDS prevention is to be implemented to remove some weaknesses such as the low level of knowledge, low level of condom use and voluntary HIV testing

School-based study to assess the nutritional status (BMI based) of adolescents of Gojra city of district Toba Tek Singh, Punjab, Pakistan

Adolescence is the make-or-break stage of life. Major physical, mental, and psychological growth takes place at this age. Adequate and balanced nutrition is a vital requirement to support this phase. Adolescents living in developing and low-income countries are more likely to face nutritional challenges. Poor nutritional status during adolescence is an important determinant of health outcomes.Objective: To analyze the nutritional status (BMI based) of school-going adolescents in Gojra city, Punjab, Pakistan. Methods: A school-based cross-sectional survey was carried out covering 635 (6-8 grade) school-going adolescents (boys and girls) from public schools in Gojra city. Data were collected through anthropometric measures taken. Symptoms of malnutrition were also assessed. Mean and frequencies were reported for demographic variables and symptoms of malnutrition while two sample Independent T-test was used to compare the means of groups under study using SPSS version-23.Results: The overall prevalence of underweight in boys was found (33.9%) as compared to adolescent girls (32.3%). It was also found that malnutrition and related health complications were higher in adolescents with lower BMI values.Conclusions: Adolescent boys and girls were found with a high prevalence of malnutrition along with other symptoms

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Hip Pain Among Health-Care Professionals of Lahore: A Cross-Sectional Study

Musculoskeletal hip pain constitutes one of the main professional hazards among health-care professionals. Because of physical workloads and characteristics, hip pain varies among them, lowering their productivity and quality of life. Various studies have been conducted focusing on musculoskeletal pain among health-care professionals of Pakistan apart from hip pain. Therefore, a cross-sectional survey-based study was designed to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal hip pain among health-care professionals and its association with some risk factors (age, gender, occupation). Data was collected by Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire from 971 health-care professionals. The average age of respondents was 36.39 (S=8.82) years with the males in the majority (52.5%). Hip pain prevalence was found to be 147 (15.1%). Younger therapists and professionals had a higher percentage of hip pain 64(42.9%) at the age of (26-35). There was a significant association of hip pain with age, gender, and occupation, as p-value was less than (0.05). Musculoskeletal hip pain commonly affects (15.1%) of health-care professionals, with males being at a higher percentage of (53.1%). Significant risk factors for hip pain include age and occupation as younger professionals reported more hip pain. Prevalence was higher among Surgeons, Physicians and Dentist. A greater advocacy is needed to prevent work-related hip pain by adaptation of strategies for prevention and better working conditions. Keywords: Prevalence, Musculoskeletal hip pain, Healthcare professionals, Lahore, Therap

Phylogenetic and phenotypic properties of HIV-1 variants of different subtypes, in mother to child transmission

Transmission from mother to child is the most common way that children contract HIV-1 infection in developing countries; transmission through this route is prevented in most developed countries by antiretroviral treatment, elective Caesarean section and absence of breast-feeding. However, these measures are not fully available in developing countries. By defining the properties of the virus that is transmitted from mother to child in great detail, we aimed at establishing a foundation of knowledge to improve preventive measures against HIV-1 transmission. Moreover, the understanding of the HIV-1 genetic variation and phenotype evolution is critical for unravelling correlates of disease progression. The third variable region (V3) of the HIV-1 envelope gp120 protein mediates co-receptor interaction and is an important marker of the viral phenotype. While the X4 phenotype is associated with disease progression, the R5 phenotype is associated with transmission and/or is the phenotype of the virus permitted to initially replicate following transmission. Thus, it is crucial to precisely identify properties of the transmitted virus, which may become the targets for new interventions. In the present thesis, population and single genome sequences were obtained through nested PCR of env gp120 V3 and flanking regions. The co-receptor determination of HIV-1 isolates was previously performed in U87 cell lines. Geno2Pheno and an inhouse method, the glycan-charge model, determined the genetic co-receptor predictions. Phylogenetic analysis was extensively used to map the origin and relation of virus isolates to other previously characterized HIV-1 strains. In a prospective study conducted in northern Vietnam (paper I) a strategy combining post-test confidential counselling of HIV-1 infected mothers, formula feeding and antiretroviral prophylaxis of mothers and children resulted in low rates of deliveryassociated and late HIV-1 transmissions. In 37 of the HIV-1 infected pregnant women from paper I, we further traced the origin of their HIV-1 env sequences (paper II). Their env sequences were classified as being CRF01_AE subtype and showed a relatively low evolutionary rate, which is compatible with a rapidly spreading, epidemic. In the third study (paper III), we investigated the HIV-1 predicted phenotypes of the CRF01_AE sequences, obtained from the mothers presented in paper I. Sequences from a separate group of vertically infected children from the same hospital in Hanoi were also added to paper III. In this study, we found a high overall proportion of the CXCR4-using phenotype; however, despite the dominant presence of CXCR4-using strains in mothers of infected children, it appears that CCR5-using strains would be favoured in transmission. The study IV was an attempt to identify and characterize the transmitted/founder virus in mother-to-child transmission. Over 700 single genome sequences were obtained. We preliminary observed 11 matches in 8 cases, where infant sequences were identical to the maternal sequences. The earliest viruses obtained from the children harboured a virus with R5-like properties also in the expanded viral population. There was a tendency to an increased V3 charge over time and sequences of transmitted virus were often stable over time in the children samples from different subtypes. In summary, this thesis may hopefully contribute to advance our knowledge on the viral characteristics, related to early transmission events from mother to child, which maybe helpful to take under considerations when improving or developing interventions against HIV

Potential benefits and perceived need for health promoting hospitals in Pakistan: a healthcare stakeholder\u27s perspective

OBJECTIVES: To explore perceptions of healthcare stakeholders\u27 about health promoting hospitals, potential benefits and need in Pakistan.METHODOLOGY: A qualitative exploratory study was conducted between July-August 2007. The data was collected through key-informant (KI) interviews and focus group discussions (FGD) with purposively selected hospital administrators, healthcare providers, health policy makers, and UN-donor agency representatives. The thematic analysis was done using QSR NVivo 2.0; and nodes representing themes were generated.RESULTS: The study participants perceived health promotion, a concept synonymous to health education. Those participants with public health background were better able to relate their perceptions to a more holistic view of health promotion; than those without public health background. Participants largely revealed HPH to benefit not only patients, but also community, hospital staff and hospitals at large. HPH transition was also perceived as \u27opportunistic step\u27 for controlling triple burden of diseases, curtailing morbidity and mortality toll, and \u27sole answer\u27 to promote population health, and wellbeing. Given the view, HPH was strongly recommended as Need of the hour for Pakistan.CONCLUSION: The HPH settings would bring positive change in the healthcare delivery system, by empowering patients and local community. Technical trainings on health promotion for healthcare providers, constant policy dialogue, political will and support from community stakeholders will further strengthen the scope of health promoting hospitals in Pakistan

Nexus Between Religious Journeys And Economic Influences – The case of Saudi Arabia

This research investigates the role of economic factors in affecting faith-based travelling to Saudi Arabia and suggests GDP per capita income, relative price, population size, trade volume and cost of travelling as major determinants of religious tourism to the country of destination. This study is an important contribution to the literature on religious tourism as it provides empirical linkages between spiritual decisions and economic influences. In addition, this study adds new propositions to theory and identifies religious tourism as a ‘Veblen good’. This research uses monthly data covering the time period 2004 m1 - 2015m12. It employs an ARDL bound testing approach as well as a conditional error correction model to determine the demand function and quantifies the magnitude of long-run relationship between the variables and finally constructs bootstrap confidence intervals to determine their statistical significance