Diet-induced inflammation in zebrafish and its alleviation by functional oligo- and polysaccharides

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Management and Complications of Arnold Chiari Hydrocephalus at Tertiary Health Care Center

Objective: to investigate the role of CT and MRI in diagnosis of Arnold chiari malformation of hydrocephalus and its treatment with VP shunt along with complications. Study Design: Prospective study Place and duration: Department of Neurosurgery, DG Khan Medical College from May 4, 2018 to May 4, 2019. Methodology: Fifty patients of congenital hydrocephalus who were not treated previously were selected. Detailed history about disease and clinical examination of patients was performed. Follow ups were done at neurosurgery OPD. SPSS software for data analysis was used and mean ± SD, frequency and percentages were calculated for variables. P value ≤0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Treatment in case of congenital hydrocephalus as VP shunt, intra-aneurysmal coiling, excision of meningomyelocele with VP shunt and suboccipital craniectomy + upper cervical laminectomy (scucl) were observed as 10%, 6%, 8% and 8% respectively.  Twelve percent of patients were not treated. Conclusion: CT and MRI are the main diagnostic tools for diagnosis of Arnold chiari malformation and VP shunt is the treatment of choice. Among complications of VP shunt infection of shunt and shunt block are the main complications

EMPLOYING NATION BRANDING AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY: STRATEGIES FOR PAKISTAN

In the 21st century, states use nation-branding techniques to safeguard their national interests. They employ public diplomacy strategies to maintain their international image. Through branding techniques and public diplomacy strategies, nations can build a positive image among the committee of nations. It is argued in this paper that the international image of Pakistan is required to be improved, and there is a need to shun the notion of negative characteristics associated with terrorism, religious extremism, Talibanization, and allegedly branding as a failed state. There is also a need to study the mindset for conducting various surveys about Pakistan’s image and its sponsors. The main argument of this research work is that Pakistan has all the variables required for nation branding and building positive public perception. To improve its international image, Pakistan has to adopt innovative nation-branding techniques and public diplomacy strategies.    Bibliography Entry Kayani, Saima Ashraf, and Muhammad Saif ur Rehman. 2022. "Employing Nation Branding and Public Diplomacy: Strategies for Pakistan." Margalla Papers 26 (1): 34-46

Assessing the Impact of Eucalyptus Plantation on Groundwater Availability in Pakistan

Eucalyptus tree was first planted in Pakistan in the 1980s under the project of Pakistan Forest Institute sponsored by United States Agency for International Development. It is not native to Pakistan's environment, so it has become a threat to the ecosystem. A mature Eucalyptus tree shape is like a shrub or tall tree. It is centered by the number of controversies like allelopathy, loss of soil fertility, the substitution of conventional forests and causing various hydro-ecological imbalances of an ecosystem. Eucalyptus tree consumes three times more water in arid and semi-arid environments, because of vapor pressure deficit. About 80% of Pakistan's area is present in the semi-arid and arid climate. Pakistan is facing a serious water shortage and rapid groundwater level depletion in many parts of the country. It is believed that species of Eucalyptus tree are extracting more groundwater than water recharge. Therefore, the present study is conducted to identify the adverse impacts of Eucalyptus plantation on the groundwater level of Lahore. Six parks in Lahore were selected as study sites, i.e., Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, Bagh-e-Jinnah, Jillani Park, Nawaz Sharif Park, Jallo Park, and Johar Town Park. A total of 3,484 Eucalyptus trees were identified with different age groups. These trees belong to the species of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus citriodora and Eucalyptus sideroxylone. The study reveals that since 1990, the groundwater level has significantly reduced in study sites. It is recommended that Eucalyptus trees may be replaced with other indigenous species so that the rate of groundwater depletion can be slowed down

Bacterial disinfection using polymer hybrids

Sol-gel chemistry was adeptly exploited to fabricate polymer based hybrids for solar disinfection to render clean drinking water. The present research study was carried out by inclusion of different proportions of titania (2.5 and 7.5 wt. %) that covalently cross-linked with the polymer matrix. In addition to morphological studies, the optical band gap and wavelength absorbed was investigated through UV-Vis absorption spectra. Moreover, the efficacy of photocatalytic antimicrobial activity of polymer based hybrids was evaluated using source water with controlled amount of total coliform that causes waterborne diseases. This research provided a green synthesis approach for water disinfection along with no disinfection byproduct formation, thus, rendering energy efficient and cost-effective water disinfection

Potential of Cellulosic Ethanol to Overcome Energy Crisis in Pakistan

Liquid biofuel industry in Pakistan may become a promising source for saving our foreign exchange and environment. Currently, bioethanol production is dependent on cane molasses, a product of sugar industry. Harnessing of more bioethanol from lignocellulosic waste crop residue has potential to respond to the fuel scarcity. Lignocellulose exists in nature as a polymer and serves as the largest sink for fixed global carbon and could be used both as a carbon source for microbial growth-assisted bioethanol production and for fabricating enzymes for more energetic simultaneous production to represent an important segment of the renewable energy sector. An exciting aspect of this research is the development of new biorefining techniques that facilitate the extraction of sugar-derived biofuel by processing of waste crop residues by employing novel nature inspired lignolytic enzyme. Further research will explore more avenues for stabilization of system in terms of process parameters for optimum bioethanol yield from enzymatically hydrolyzed lignin waste streams. The chapter can be considered as an anticipatory work and exploration of new dimensions for promotion of nature-inspired enzyme-assisted lignocellulose-based bioethanol production industry, which maximizes sustainable development opportunities especially in energy sector

A CROSS-SECTIONAL RESEARCH STUDY TO DETERMINE THE PREVALENCE OF BURNOUT IN POSTGRADUATE DOCTORS ACCORDING TO THEIR SPECIALTY, IN SERVICES HOSPITAL, LAHORE

Aim: The objective of the research was to determine occurrence of burnout among postgraduate doctors as per their specialty. Introduction: Burnout refers to higher level of emotional exhaustion, reduced personal accomplishment and higher level of depersonalization. Method: This cross-sectional research was carried out at Services Hospital, Lahore from 09-05-19 to 05-06-19. Through non-probability sampling technique, we short listed two hundred participants. Research utilized Maslach Burnout Inventory. We used SPSS for outcomes analysis. Results: The outcomes of burnout according as per the doctor’s specialty were as pathology (17.5%), gynecology (30%), surgery (55%), medicine (90%) and others (42.5%). Conclusions: Various burnout degrees were present in the specialist with higher levels of surgical interventions and medicine; whereas the pathology was at lowest level. Age, gender, time served and working hours of the postgraduates influenced the burnout prevalence. Higher burnout incidence demonstrates the requirement of proper strategies in order to avoid adverse effects on the life quality of the undergraduates and patient care quality. Keywords: Burnout Syndrome, Postgraduates, Inter-Specialty Variation and Associated Factors

Impact of Climate Change on Land use/Land cover of Chakwal District

Alterations in land use and land cover, either natural or anthropogenic can disturb the balance of fragile ecosystems. Climate change plays a unique role in governing the structure and state of land features and alters the structure of ecosystem as well as its services required by earth. Human health and environment are matter of concern due to changes induced by human in its natural environment (Jat et al., 2008). Human has an urge to remain near nature, for that they shift from dense urban areas to less dense areas (Western, 2001). So is the case of new housing societies where the land mafias intimate the people about new settlements (Zaman and Baloch, 2011), which are made by cutting the forests, removing trees and disturbing the ecosystem. For proper planning and management of natural resources, it is necessary to study the land cover and its associated changes (Asselman and Middelkoop, 1995). Modelling of changes within land cover to identify environmental trends on the local, national or regional level, have been realized in the scientific community (Nath et al., 2020). GIS/RS provides continuous change dynamics (Berlanga-Robles and Ruiz-Luna, 2011) of land cover/land use, i.e. by satellite monitoring (Ruiz-Ruano et al., 2016). The understanding of land cover changes is necessary for decision making (Lu et al., 2004) in the natural resource management (Seif et al., 2012). This study was carried out to identify the impact of changes in climate upon land use and land cover of Chakwal district from 1995 to 2020. Geospatial techniques were applied to estimate the differences in land features, using different time interval satellite datasets (Table 1). Six major classes of land features including, agriculture, bare land, built-up, forest, shrubs/grass and water were selected for this study, with respect to time

Association of ABO Blood group phenotypes with FEV1/FVC values among students of Aziz Fatima Medical and Dental College

Objective: To find the frequency of obstructive and restrictive lung disease in various blood groups in young students of Aziz Fatimah Medical and dental college. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at Aziz Fatima Medical and Dental College, Faisalabad from 1st January to 31st March 2022. It included 80 participants of first-year MBBS comprising both genders between 18 to 22 years. Ethical approval was taken from the institutional ethical committee of the institute. After fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria blood grouping was done by conventional slide method and Spirometry was performed to access lung function parameters to determine obstructive and restrictive lung diseases. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 26. Results: The study population included  36 males (45%) and 44 females (55%). Mean±SD age of participants was 20 ± 1.07 years. The most frequent blood group was B followed by O, A and AB. Restrictive lung disease ( FEV1/FVC ratio ≥ 0.8) was found in 19(23.8%) participants while obstructive lung disease ( FEV1/FVC ratio <0.8)  was found in 46(57.5%) participants. Obstructive lung diseases were more frequently found in subjects with blood group AB while restrictive lung diseases were more commonly noticed in subjects with blood group O. Mean±SD of FEV1/FVC% of subjects with obstructive and restrictive lung diseases were 45.15± 19.04 and 81.79±8.25 respectively. Conclusion: Blood group AB is more prone to have Obstructive lung disease with decreased FEV1/FVC ratio. Restrictive lung disease was more commonly seen in blood group O.