Antecedents of self-disclosure on social networking sites (SNSs): A study of Facebook users

Self-disclosure on social networking sites (SNSs) leads to social capital development, connectedness, and relationship building. Due to several benefits associated with this behavior, self-disclosure has become a subject of research over the last few years. The current study investigates the antecedents of self-disclosure under the lens of the technology acceptance model (TAM). The research is quantitative, and the data were collected from 400 Pakistani Facebook users with a variety of demographic characteristics. The partial least squares-structural equation model (PLS-SEM) analysis technique was employed to analyze the data. The study′s findings confirmed that perceived usefulness is a strong predictor of personal information sharing, and it along with other variables causes a 31% variation in self-disclosure behavior. However, trust (medium and social) mediates the relationship of perceived usefulness, privacy concerns, and self-disclosure behavior

Assessment of Urban Sprawl in Sargodha City using Remotely Sense Data

The current study focuses on tracking urban sprawl in one of the rapidly growing cities of Pakistan i.e., Sargodha. The secondary cities have the capacity to persuade people from rural areas to relocate. In this regard, the current study is unique in that it will give a comprehensive analysis of urban sprawl of Sargodha City. The remotely sensed data is used for this purpose. The study is primarily based on the collecting of both primary and secondary data. For the last 30 years, from 1987 to 2017, primary data was gathered from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Global Land Cover Facility (GLCF). ERDAS Imagine 2013 is used to classify land use using remotely sensed data. The Kappa Coefficient was used to compute the accuracy assessment of classified maps. Maps are used to depict a comparative analysis of urban sprawl in the city. In addition, regression analysis and simple statistical computations are also utilised to assess dynamic changes in urban sprawl. From 1987 to 2017, a 10-year interval was used to measure change in built-up land using an equation. According to the findings of the study, Sargodha City has experienced considerable changes in land use patterns. This current study is beneficial for policymakers to design the city in a well-planned manner. The appropriate design of cities can pave the way for higher living standards in rapidly growing cities of Pakistan

MICROBIAL OXIDATION OF FINASTERIDE WITH MACROPHOMINA PHASEOLINA(KUCC 730)

Objectives: New  microbial oxidative derivatives of Finasteride [17β-(N-tert-butylcarbamoyl)-4-aza-5α-androst-1-en-3-one] (1) has been investigated with Macrophomina phaseolina (ATCC730).Methods: Fermented media of  Macrophomina phaseolina (ATCC730) was prepared to cultivate the fungal cultures . Substrate 1 was incubated in liquid media for 16 days. After sixteen days, filtration and extraction of the fermented media was carried out with 9 L DCM in three portions. Resulting organic extract was dried using anhydrous (Na2SO4), and evaporated to afford a brown gum (950 mg). This on chromatographic purification with MeOH in CH2Cl2 afforded the metabolites 2-4 . Results: Three oxidised metabolites of finasteride (1) which were identified as 15-oxo-finasteride (2), 11a-hydroxyfinasteride (3), and 15β-hydroxyfinasteride (4). Metabolite 2 was found to be new. The structure of the oxidised metabolites were elucidated by 1-D (1H, 13C) and 2-D NMR (COSY, HMBC, HMQC, NOESY) techniques and MS analyses.Conclusion: As a result of these study, oxidation at C-7, C-11 and C-15 positions were found. Metabolite 2 was identified as a new metabolite

Highly efficient catalytic degradation of low-density polyethylene using a novel tungstophosphoric acid/kaolin clay composite catalyst

In order to take advantage of Bronsted acidity of tungstophosphoric acid(TPA) and Lewis acidity of kaolin, TPA loaded kaolin catalysts with varying percentages of TPA (10-50wt%) have been prepared by wet impregnation method. Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectrometer, X-ray diffractometer, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analyzer, and Scanning Electron Microscope characterizations were performed to confirm the successful loading of TPA onKaolin. Catalytic cracking of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), by employing our TPA loaded Kaolin as the catalyst, produced a higher percentage of fuel oil (liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons) with negligible amount of semisolid wax (1.0 wt.%), significantly lower compared to the thermal cracking which produced ~22wt.% solid black residue. Moreover, GCMS analysis of oil showed that thermal cracking produces mainly higher hydrocarbons(C22) as compared to the catalytic cracking where larger fraction oflowerhydrocarbons were obtained. We purpose that the higher performance of our catalysts was due to the presence of both Bronsted and Lewis acid sites, which increase their catalytic efficiency and degraded the LDPE at the relatively lower temperatures. Our results suggest that prepared materials were effectivecatalysts with low cost and easily scalable production method; suitable for large-scale highperformance catalytic cracking of LDPE based materials

Clinical and electrophysiological efficacy of leaf extract of Gingko biloba L (Ginkgoaceae) in subjects with diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy

Purpose: To investigate the health benefits of Gingko biloba L. leave extract EGb 761 in patients with diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSP).Method: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo trial, patients (n = 156) received Gingko biloba (120 mg/day) or placebo for 6 months. Efficacy of Gingko biloba extract EGb 761 was assessed on the reduction in the scores of “Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire” (SF-MPQ) and improvements in latency, amplitude and conduction velocity of four sensory (ulnar, median, peroneal and sural) and four motor (ulnar, median, peroneal and tibial) nerves.Results: Gingko biloba significantly improved the mean scores of sensory, affective, visual analogue score (VAS) and present pain intensity (PPI) of SF-MPQ on 3 and 6 month post-treatment. At the start of experiment in the Gingko biloba-treated group, scores for sensory, affective, VAS and PPI domains were 12.90 ± 7.21, 4.40 ± 1.79, 4.38 ± 1.69 and 3.24 ± 0.78 respectively. After 6-months treatment with Gingko biloba, scores for sensory, affective, VAS and PPI domains were reduced (p < 0.01) to 7.24 ± 4.91, 3.11 ± 1.81, 3.37 ± 1.35 and 2.45 ± 0.65 respectively. Contrarily, in the placebo-administered group, sensory domain was (p < 0.01) deteriorated after 6 month (4.70 ± 1.87) compared to the baseline (4.04 ± 1.67). Gingko biloba extract EGb 761 failed to influence the electrophysiological measures when compared with the placebo group. The common adverse effects observed with Gingko biloba were somnolence and dryness of mouth compared with the placebo-treated patientsConclusion: Gingko biloba extract EGb 761 seems to be an effective and safe drug for reducing symptoms of DSP without any apparent effect on the electrophysiological attributes of sensorimotor nerves.Keywords: Diabetic polyneuropathy, Diabetes mellitus, Electrophysiological parameters, Gingko biloba, Sensorimotor nerves, Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnair