PREVALENCE OF LIBRARY ANXIETY AMONG UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS

This study aimed to explore the frequency of library anxiety among the medical students (first year to fourth year) of Khyber Medical College (KMC), one of the oldest medical institutes of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Out of 1500 populations of the study, data were collected from 306 students using a convenient sampling technique. The AQAK library anxiety instrument was used to measure the respondents’ library anxiety level and significance differences with respect to respondents’ gender and their level/year of study. The study found that the respondents’ library anxiety level with respect to ‘‘library staff’ were little higher than the ‘user knowledge’. This study also reported that no significance difference was found between the male and female students with respect to library anxiety. However, the library anxiety mean score for the first-year students were little higher than the final year students. This study has not only filled a gap in the literature with respect to examining the library anxiety of medical students in the study context, but would also help the competent authority and medical librarians to formulate effective strategic plan to overcome the library anxiety level among the medical students, improve library services and provide users education

Impact of Service Quality on Customers’ Advocacy; Mediating Role of Customers’ Loyalty: A case of selected Private Hospitals of Peshawar

The aim of the current study is to determine how service quality influence customers’ advocacy directly and indirectly through customers’ loyalty in private sector hospitals of Peshawar. Famous servqual model used for the analysis of service quality of the selected hospitals. Confirmatory factor analysis used to examine the fitness of the model and then with the help of path analysis hypotheses were checked. After analysis it was found that the relationship of service quality and customer advocacy was fully mediated by customer loyalty. The current study would be very useful for the hospital’s management in evaluation of service quality. Furthermore, the findings of the current study would also be useful in getting more customers. Marketing and management personnel of the hospitals would more emphasis on service quality to produce loyal customer, who eventually turns into advocates.Â

Genetic diversity in Balkhi, Hashtnagri and Michni sheep populations using SSR markers

Morphological and genetic diversity among the three neighboring sheep breeds native to Central valley of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP, Pakistan) was investigated. A total number of 138 non relative individuals of Balkhi (46), Hashtnagri (44) and Michni (48) was sampled for morphological as well as molecular characters using 31 ovine specific SSR markers. Morphological observations and morphometric traits varied significantly among different sheep breeds. Balkhi having usually brown or white colour, with a tucked up fat tail was the larger breed. Hashtnagri is a medium sized breed; body covered with white wool, having long white tail, with a tail switch. The body colour of Michni sheep was usually brown or some times white. This breed is comparatively small in size with longer fat tail, hanging near  (33.3%) or below (66.7%) hock. Total number of 119 alleles was identified with mean number of 3.8 alleles per locus, ranging from 2 to 8. Twelve unique alleles  were identified in Michni population at different loci. Average gene diversity was higher in Michni (0.561). Inbreeding estimate (FIT) was significantly higher  (27.1%) among three breeds and was highest between Balkhi and Hashtnagri (31%), similarly highest gene flow (Nm = 60.4) and lowest population differentiation (FST = 4.3%) was estimated between these two  breeds. Maximum genetic distance was observed between Balkhi and Michni; however, Balkhi was genetically closed to Hashtnagri population. Balkhi and Michni were assigned at high accuracy to their respective population; however, the identity of Hashtnagri is obscure.Key words: Balkhi, Hashtnagri, Michni, simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, morphological characteristics, genetic diversity

Optimal Glomerular Filtration Rate Equations for Various Age Groups, Disease Conditions and Ethnicities in Asia: A Systematic Review

(1) Background: The performance of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations in the Asian population has been widely questioned. The primary objective of this study was to gather evidence regarding optimal GFR equations in Asia for various age groups, disease conditions, and ethnicities. The secondary objective was to see whether the equations based on the combination of creatinine and cystatin C biomarkers if employed are satisfactory across different age groups and disease conditions in various ethnicities in Asia compared to those based on either of the single biomarkers. (2) Methods: Validation studies that had both creatinine and cystatin C-based equations either alone or in combination, validated in specific disease conditions, and those which compared the performance of these equations with exogenous markers were eligible only. The bias, precision, and 30% accuracy (P30) of each equation were recorded accordingly. (3) Results: Twenty-one studies consisting of 11,371 participants were included and 54 equations were extracted. The bias, precision, and P30 accuracies of the equations ranged from −14.54 to 9.96 mL/min/1.73 m2, 1.61 to 59.85 mL/min/1.73 m2, and 4.7% to 96.10%. The highest values of P30 accuracies were found for the JSN-CKDI equation (96.10%) in Chinese adult renal transplant recipients, for the BIS-2 equation (94.5%) in Chinese elderly CKD patients, and Filler equation (93.70%) also in Chinese adult renal transplant recipients. (4) Conclusions: Optimal equations were identified accordingly and it was proven that combination biomarker equations are more precise and accurate in most of the age groups and disease conditions. These can be considered equations of choice for the specific age groups, disease conditions, and ethnicities within Asia

Conversion of Waste Marble Powder into a Binding Material

In the marble industry, a lot of marble is wasted in the form of odd blocks of various sizes and slurry consisting of water and micro-fine particles. The slurry on drying converts into powder. Both slurry and powder have adverse effects on the environment. This research is focused on the gainful utilization of waste marble powder (WMP) by converting it into a valuable binding material. For this purpose, WMP and clay were collected, and their physical and chemical properties were determined. A mix of WMP and clay was prepared and burnt at a temperature around 1300 oC. The burnt mix was ground to powder form to get marble cement (MC). The MC was then used in mortar. The compressive and flexural strengths of mortar cubes and prisms were determined. Apart from this, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis were also carried out. The chemical composition showed that the MC has 52.5% di-calcium silicate (C2S) and 3.5% tri-calcium silicate (C3S).The  compressive strength of MC mortar after 28 days curing is 6.03 MPa, which is higher than M1 mortar of building code of Pakistan (5 MPa). The compressive strength of MC mortar after one year is 20.67 MPa, which is only 17% less than OPC mortar

ACCOUNTABILITY AT CROSSROADS: GOVERNANCE CHALLENGES AND CONSEQUENCES IN PAKISTAN

This paper points to how anti-corruption efforts in Pakistan at the national and provincial levels actually contribute to their failure. The broad and flexible definitions of corruption in prevailing laws have led to miscarriages of justice, as numerous interpretations result in potential unfair targeting of individuals. The complex landscape of accountability in Pakistan also evolves from multiple institutional overlaps—lacking clear jurisdictional boundaries. A case in point is the use of plea bargaining as a corruption prevention model that faced criticism for being coercive as well as an infringement on one’s right to fair trial. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has often been accused of violating fundamental rights protected in the Constitution of Pakistan, and the accountability procedures are seen as humiliating for civil servants. This paper discusses how the overall institutional-legal framework is shaped by its heavy dependence on the government that undermines the operational effectiveness of the Anti-Graft Bodies (A-GBs). It overviews anti-corruption efforts in Pakistan facing mainstream challenges: political-policy implications, legal-institutional inconsistencies, violations of rights, and operational inefficiency, which collectively hinder their effectiveness

FEMALE AS OWNER AND MANAGER, EXPORT ORIENTATION, AND VALUE RELEVANCE OF INNOVATION EVIDENCE FROM EMERGIN G COUNTRIES

The study investigates the impact of the females at the top, females with majority and minority ownership, and females as workers on the export orientation. Moreover, the study also examines the value relevance of the product, process, market, and organizational innovation in the relationship between the females at four different levels in hierarchy and export orientations in the case of emerging markets. The study use data of Enterprise survey conducted by the World Bank from 2002 to 2019 for 40 emerging countries. The sample included 20,019 export- oriented firms. We use hierarchical regression models for estimation. The results of various models show that females at the top position and females with majority ownership have a positive and significant effect on the export orientation. However, female minority ownership and female workers have no significant influence on export orientation. Moreover, product, market, and process innovations have a positive and significant incremental effect in the relationship between females at the top and females holding majority ownership and export orientation. The theory of internationalization is found valid as females in the two significant positions (majority shareholdings and manager at top) are found relevant to the export orientation of the firms. The findings of the study that females as controlling shareholder behave differently than men in emerging markets challenge the principal-principal agency conflicts. Organizations chasing the goal to improve their revenues and grow through exports shall try to attract female investors and hire or promote female to the rank of top-level managerial positions.Moreover, the results of the study encourage small firms to employ and utilize the potentials of females as managers and focus on innovations to exploit export opportunities.Whereas, to boost exports of the local industries, governments are required to provide structural and legal support

Determination of Underground Structure and Migration of Hot Plumes Contaminating Fresh Water Using Vertical Electrical Survey (VES) and Magnetic Survey, A Case Study of Tattapani Thermal Spring, Azad Kashmir

A geophysical survey was carried out at Tattapani thermal spring Azad Kashmir to delineate structure,thickness, depth, lithology and migration of hot plumes contaminating fresh water. The study area was investigated byVertical Electrical Sounding (VES) using schlumberger array at 21 locations arranged in ten profiles to a maximumdepth of 500 m and 200 magnetic observations. The extension and tectonic setup of thermal spring was mapped bygeoelectrical litho sections, subsurface geological sections (20m, 20-100m and 100-500m) pseudo section, apparentresistivity map, geoelectrical parameters, statistical distribution of apparent resistivity, total magnetic intensity andanomaly map. The data show that Tattapani hot spring is concentrated along the fault line delineated by geoelectricallitho sections and magnetic section with value of -120 nT to -300 nT, total field intensity of 50000-50450 nT andconfirm by macro anisotropy (1.0 to 2.7). The geoelectrical lithological section portrays that study area compriseslithological fabric of dolomite (≥400 ohm.m), sandstone (150-200 ohm.m), clay (80-150 ohm.m), Shaley clay (50-80)and shale (≤ 50). The Thermal Plumes (10-70 ohm.m) were pictured by resistivity section and pseudo section ataverage depth of 30-60 m and showing migration of hot plumes in the North-Eastern direction contaminating freshwater (100-200 ohm.m). The longitudinal conductance (0.95-15 mhos), transverse resistance (20-300 ohm.m2) are seenhaving maximum value in the North-Eastern and North-Western side of the study area. The study also shows that freshground water is mostly concentrated in sandstone (150-200 ohm.m), dolomite (≥400 ohm.m) and lies above the thermalplumes and thus highly prone to contamination due to upwelling of thermal water