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

Perceptions and Performance of dental students using Conventional and Virtual Microscopy in Oral Pathology

Virtual microscopy for showing histopathological slides have been in use for quite some time. This method of teaching is considered to be a good replacement for conventional microscopy using glass slides. This study was carried out to analyze the perception and performance of dental students regarding the use of conventional microscopic slides and virtual slides in relation to teaching and learning. Material and methods: Eighty undergraduate dental students who had studies the subject of oral pathology as a compulsory subject at Watim Dental college were invited to participate in the study. Students not willing to take part in the study were excluded. The questionnaires were duly filled and test was taken by the students using either virtual slides or glass slides. The data was collected and analyzed using SPSS 20. Results: A total of eighty undergraduate students participated in the study. The results showed that dental students had a higher acceptance rate (all P-value<0.001) for cases taught via virtual microscopy and they out performed in cases shown on virtual slides (p<0.01). Conclusion: In this study the students preferred teaching of oral histopathology via virtual slides over conventional glass slides and it also contributed more to their learning. Keyword: Conventional microscopy, dental students, virtual microscopy, oral patholog

Caregivers’ burden among parents of children with Cerebral Palsy

Introduction: Caregivers help a person in those actions which cannot be performed by an individual independently; a person’s personal needs, environmental barriers that hinders an individual’s abilities etc. This ultimately puts an increased burden on the caregiver. This study was conducted to determine the levels of caregivers’ burden among the parents of children with cerebral palsy. Material & Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 298 parents of children with cerebral palsy. Non-probability convenience sampling technique was used to collect data from the parents coming to the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Islamabad. The parents of children with cerebral palsy who were having auditory, cognitive or visual impairment were excluded from this study. Demographic information form and Caregiver Burden Inventory were used for the data collection. The data was analysed through IBM SPSS version 21 and results were presented in the form of frequency, percentages and mean ± sd with p-value wherever needed. Results: the result of this study showed a greater need for respite and other services for caregivers of children with cerebral palsy. The overall Caregiver Burden Inventory score was 45.19 ± 11.9. Out of the total included participants, 163 (54.33%) participants sometimes needed relief, 116 (36.67%) needed frequent need for relief and other services while 19 (6.33%) of the included parents rarely needed relief and other services. Conclusion: Majority of the caregivers of children with cerebral palsy needed relief and other services (compromise the growth, physical and emotional health and social relationship) to manage caregivers’ burden

ENHANCING CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES: THE ROLE OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORKERS IN DISTRICT RAHIM YAR KHAN, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract In recent years, the intricate relationship between climate change and its profound impact on agricultural productivity has garnered increasing attention, particularly concerning the pivotal role played by agricultural extension workers. This study delves into climate change mitigation strategies within the realm of agriculture, with a specific focus on the instrumental contributions of agricultural extension workers. Climate change presents a multifaceted challenge to global agricultural systems, exerting significant influences on productivity, crop yields, and food production. Amid these challenges, agricultural extension workers emerge as central figures bridging the chasm between technical knowledge and practical adaptation methods for farmers. This qualitative investigation draws upon a synthesis of existing research and incorporates insights from key informant interviews. By shedding light on the intricate interplay between climate change, agricultural productivity, and the pivotal function of agricultural extension workers, this research aspires to provide a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic relationships between these variables. By facilitating the adoption of climate-resilient techniques, such as cultivating drought-resistant crop varieties, implementing water-efficient irrigation methods, and promoting agroforestry, extension workers empower farmers to mitigate the severe impacts of climate change. Furthermore, extension workers play a pivotal role in bolstering farmers' adaptive capabilities and equipping them with essential skills to navigate increasingly volatile climatic conditions. Studies underscore that farmers who receive training from extension workers report heightened confidence in successfully implementing climate-adaptive strategies

Perception Survey of Civil Servants: A Preliminary Report

Despite various attempts at reforming the civil services the common perception seems to be that the system essentially remains similar to that inherited from the colonial past. Worse still, little is known about the perceptions of civil servants on various issues in civil service reforms. Against this backdrop, the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics conducted a perception survey of civil servants seeking their views on recruitment, training, performance evaluation, job satisfaction, and relationship with the private sector. This preliminary report highlights the key findings of the survey. Section 2 sets out the survey methodology. Sections 3 to 7 respectively highlight the survey findings with respect to recruitment, postings and training, performance evaluation, job satisfaction, bureaucracy, private sector, and institutions and reforms

Multiple mycotoxins in rice : occurrence and health risk assessment in children and adults of Punjab, Pakistan

Mycotoxin contamination in rice can create a health risk for the consumers. In this study, the measurement of 23 mycotoxins in rice samples (n = 180) was performed using a validated LC-MS/MS method. A food frequency questionnaire was used to get rice consumption data for the assessment of mycotoxin dietary exposure, before calculating the health risk in adults and children of north and south regions of the Pakistani Punjab province. The prevalence of aflatoxin B-1 (56%), aflatoxin B-2 (48%), nivalenol (28%), diacetoxyscirpenol (23%), fumonisin B-1 (42%), zearalenone (15%), HT-2 toxin (10%), deoxynivalenol (8%), and ochratoxin A (6%) was estimated in samples with a mean concentration range between 0.61 and 22.98 mu g/kg. Aflatoxin degradation by traditional Pakistani cooking recipes was evaluated and observed to be 41-63%. The dietary exposure to aflatoxins exceeded the tolerable daily intake at all levels, and ochratoxin A and zearalenone posed health risk at high contamination and high consumption levels. The margin of aflatoxin B-1 exposure ranged between 10 and 69 in adults and 10 and 62 in children. The mean cancer risk by aflatoxin B-1 exposure was 0.070 (adults) and 0.071 (children) cases/year/100,000 people in South Punjab population, and 0.122 (adults) and 0.127 (children) cases/year/100,000 people in North Punjab population. This study will provide new insights for the planning and management of mycotoxins in Pakistan

Does malaria during pregnancy affect the newborn?

Objective: To investigate the effect of malarial infection during pregnancy on the newborn.Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, using in-patient hospital records over an 11-year period from 1988 to 1999. The incidence of preterm delivery, low birth weight (LBW) and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) in 29 pregnant women with malaria, was compared with that in 66 selected pregnant women without malaria, who delivered at the AKUH during the same time period.Results: Pregnant women with malaria had a 3.1 times greater risk of preterm labor (p=0.14). They were more likely to be anaemic compared to women without malaria (RR=2.9, 95% CI=1.6-5.4) and had a significantly lower mean haemoglobin level (p=0.0001). Maternal malaria was significantly associated with LBW babies (p=0.001). The mean birth weight of infants born to pregnant women with malaria was 461 g less (p=0.0005). No significant association was, however, found between malarial infection during pregnancy and IUGR (p=0.33).CONCLUSION: Malarial infection during pregnancy is associated with poor maternal and fetal outcome. It is significantly associated with maternal anaemia and LBW infants. Appropriate measures must, therefore, be taken to prevent malaria during pregnancy, especially in endemic areas

Effect of early tranexamic acid administration on mortality, hysterectomy, and other morbidities in women with post-partum haemorrhage (WOMAN): an international, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Post-partum haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. Early administration of tranexamic acid reduces deaths due to bleeding in trauma patients. We aimed to assess the effects of early administration of tranexamic acid on death, hysterectomy, and other relevant outcomes in women with post-partum haemorrhage. Methods In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we recruited women aged 16 years and older with a clinical diagnosis of post-partum haemorrhage after a vaginal birth or caesarean section from 193 hospitals in 21 countries. We randomly assigned women to receive either 1 g intravenous tranexamic acid or matching placebo in addition to usual care. If bleeding continued after 30 min, or stopped and restarted within 24 h of the first dose, a second dose of 1 g of tranexamic acid or placebo could be given. Patients were assigned by selection of a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight numbered packs that were identical apart from the pack number. Participants, care givers, and those assessing outcomes were masked to allocation. We originally planned to enrol 15 000 women with a composite primary endpoint of death from all-causes or hysterectomy within 42 days of giving birth. However, during the trial it became apparent that the decision to conduct a hysterectomy was often made at the same time as randomisation. Although tranexamic acid could influence the risk of death in these cases, it could not affect the risk of hysterectomy. We therefore increased the sample size from 15 000 to 20 000 women in order to estimate the effect of tranexamic acid on the risk of death from post-partum haemorrhage. All analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. This trial is registered with ISRCTN76912190 (Dec 8, 2008); ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00872469; and PACTR201007000192283. Findings Between March, 2010, and April, 2016, 20 060 women were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive tranexamic acid (n=10 051) or placebo (n=10 009), of whom 10 036 and 9985, respectively, were included in the analysis. Death due to bleeding was significantly reduced in women given tranexamic acid (155 [1·5%] of 10 036 patients vs 191 [1·9%] of 9985 in the placebo group, risk ratio [RR] 0·81, 95% CI 0·65–1·00; p=0·045), especially in women given treatment within 3 h of giving birth (89 [1·2%] in the tranexamic acid group vs 127 [1·7%] in the placebo group, RR 0·69, 95% CI 0·52–0·91; p=0·008). All other causes of death did not differ significantly by group. Hysterectomy was not reduced with tranexamic acid (358 [3·6%] patients in the tranexamic acid group vs 351 [3·5%] in the placebo group, RR 1·02, 95% CI 0·88–1·07; p=0·84). The composite primary endpoint of death from all causes or hysterectomy was not reduced with tranexamic acid (534 [5·3%] deaths or hysterectomies in the tranexamic acid group vs 546 [5·5%] in the placebo group, RR 0·97, 95% CI 0·87-1·09; p=0·65). Adverse events (including thromboembolic events) did not differ significantly in the tranexamic acid versus placebo group. Interpretation Tranexamic acid reduces death due to bleeding in women with post-partum haemorrhage with no adverse effects. When used as a treatment for postpartum haemorrhage, tranexamic acid should be given as soon as possible after bleeding onset. Funding London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Pfizer, UK Department of Health, Wellcome Trust, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

LC-MS/MS based appraisal of multi-mycotoxin co-occurrence in poultry feeds from different regions of Punjab, Pakistan

Mycotoxins, being a threat to animal and human health, contribute significantly towards economic losses in the poultry sector. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based study was conducted on poultry feed samples collected from Punjab, Pakistan to evaluate the prevalence, contamination levels, and co-occurrence of multi-mycotoxins across different processed forms of the feed, types of utilities and sampling regions. All samples were found to be contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1). The European Commission (EC) maximum level for AFB1 in complete feedingstuffs in poultry and guidance values for FB1 and zearalenone (ZEN) were exceeded in 73%, 2%, and 14% of the contaminated samples, respectively. The corresponding median values were 39.9 mu g/kg, 205 mu g/kg, and 34.5 mu g/kg. In addition to exceeding contamination levels, a varying co-occurrence of three to fourteen mycotoxins was observed in each of the feed samples that calls for mitigation measures to safeguard the feed and its ingredients