CORPORATE MEDIA MANIPULATION IN THE US WARS: A CASE STUDY OF IRAQ WAR

Media, as a source of information, plays a crucial role in opinion-making and perception-building. During the Iraq War (2003), the media's role was to shape the images of war while propagating specific ideas to influence the people. As a result, the world perceived propagandistic messages that appeared to take the form of fake news. The disinformation campaign was designed to profess the threat of weapons of mass destruction and explicate Saddam Hussein's affiliation with terrorist organizations as a threat to the world. The instantly shared live images, videos, recordings, and pictures across mass media platforms elicited shock, dismay, and disbelief throughout the world. With this insight, this paper attempts to comprehend the role of media propaganda which promoted the agenda of a media spectacle of the US military victory by transforming into a presentation of anarchy that destabilizes the rationale behind the invasion. It also provides an overview of the development of the Iraq War through the lens of the Herman-Chomsky Propaganda model. This model elucidates the role of propaganda in manipulating the opinion of the Iraqi people and how it was used to achieve economic, social, and political advantages.   Bibliography Entry Javed, Huma, and Arshi Saleem Hashmi. 2021. “Corporate Media Manipulation in the US Wars: A Case Study of Iraq War.” Magalla Papers 25 (1): 143-152

Non-compaction of the left ventricle and associated ventricular septal defect.

A case report of a 28-year-old patient, who presented with symptoms and signs of congestive heart failure and had clinical signs of ventricular septal defect as well. On further work-up echocardiogram showed non-compaction of the left ventricle with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction and a ventricular septal defect. He was treated with standard treatment of heart failure and is doing well

Changing Pattern of Mycena polygramma in Pakistan

There are number of factors which influence the natural vegetation of any area. These include rapid industrialization and developing infrastructure along with environmental problems which disturbed the natural habitat of the native species. Such factors also influence the entrance of new biodiversity in the ecosystem. The recent study attempts to report such phenomenon for the genus Mycena (Family Tricholomataceae). Keywords: Macromycetes, Mycena polygramma, Rapid Industrialization, environmental influence

Dissolved Concentrations, Sources, and Risk Evaluation of Selected Metals in Surface Water from Mangla Lake, Pakistan

The present study is carried out for the assessment of water quality parameters and selected metals levels in surface water from Mangla Lake, Pakistan. The metal levels (Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn) were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Average levels of Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, and Pb were higher than the allowable concentrations set by national and international agencies. Principal component analysis indicated significant anthropogenic contributions of Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, and Pb in the water reservoir. Noncarcinogenic risk assessment was then evaluated using Hazard Quotient HQing/derm and Hazard Index HIing/derm following USEPA methodology. For adults and children, Cd, Co, Cr, and Pb HQing>1 emerged as the most important pollutants leading to noncarcinogenic concerns via ingestion route, whereas there was no risk via dermal contact of surface water. This study helps in establishing pollutant loading reduction goal and the total maximum daily loads, and consequently contributes to preserve public health and develop water conservation strategy

Association patterns of volatile metabolites in urinary excretions among Type-2 Non-Insulin dependent diabetes patients

Background: Patterns of volatile metabolites in urine are important to detect abnormalities associated with diabetes. Present study was conducted to find out the excretion patterns of endogenously produced alcohols in urine for type 2 (Non-Insulin Dependent) diabetes mellitus. A cross sectional analytical study was conducted with duration extended from Jan to Mar 2015.Methods: The current study included 40 patients with chronic type 2 diabetes mellitus. In total, 10 sex and age matched subjects with no history of any disease were considered as controls. Blood sugar was estimated by autoanalyzer using standard kit of Merck following manufacturer`s instructions. Urine sugar was quantitatively detected by biuret reagent using titration technique. Urinary alcohol was identified and estimated by gas chromatography.  Urinary ketone bodies were estimated by urinary strip.Results: It was observed that level of fasting blood sugar was significantly increased (P<0.001) in patients as compared to their controls. The blood sugar and urinary alcohol in patients were 3.0% and 6.0% respectively. Urinary ketone bodies were found to be 2+. On the other hand urine sugar, alcohol and ketone bodies were not detected in the negative control subjects.Conclusions: It is concluded that urinary alcohol is endogenously produced in patients with type 2 diabetes due to uncontrolled hyperglycemia. However further work is needed to find out the ratio of urinary and blood alcohol which may confirm the present findings

Prevalence of obesity in school-going children of Karachi.

Background: Obesity is an emerging problem in Pakistan. The authors sought to determine prevalence of obesity and malnutrition in school-going children, from grades 6(th) to 8(th) of different schools of Karachi and assess associations that affect the weight of the children. Methodology/Principal Findings: A cross sectional Study Design with children studying in grades 6(th) to 8(th) grade, in different schools of Karachi. We visited 10 schools of which 4 consented, two subsidized government schools and two private schools. A questionnaire was developed in consultation with a qualified nutritionist. Height and weight were measured on calibrated scales. A modified BMI criterion for Asian populations was used. Data was collected from 284 students. Of our sample, 52% were found to be underweight whereas 34% of all the children were normal. Of the population, 6% was obese and 8% overweight. Of all obese children, 70% belonged to the higher socio-economic status (SES) group, while of the underweight children, 63.3% were in the lower SES. Amongst obese children in our study, 65% ate meat every day, compared to 33% of normal kids. Conclusion: Obesity and undernutrition co-exist in Pakistani school-children. Our study shows that socio-economic factors are important since obesity and overweight increase with SES. Higher SES groups should be targeted for overweight while underweight is a problem of lower SES. Meat intake and lack of physical activity are some of the other factors that have been highlighted in our study.

Career Development an Imperative of Job Satisfaction and Career Commitment: Empirical Evidence from Pakistani Employees in Banking Sector

The idea of strengthening human capital to beginning creativeness, business soul, and advancement through preparing the careers of institutional members using HRM policies and methods to develop different skills, mindsets and expertise with the ultimate aim to provide a range of innovative goods and services is gaining attention. The overall perspective for the research study was to discover the effects and outcomes of profession growth initiatives on companies and employees. The survey is conducted to collect data from the Banking sector in Islamabad and sample selected is of five major private banks. The data is analyzed by using SPSS and Amos to authenticate the model and propositions made by the researcher. Organizations invest resources in profession growth kinds of actions for recruiting, there tends to be less investment in similar kinds of actions for worker retention. This paper examines the link between profession preparing and profession control as antecedents of profession growth and job fulfillment, and profession dedication as its outcome. There is a significant link between the factors of profession preparing and profession control, and profession growth, and in turn, with job fulfillment and profession dedication. The paper converses about the significances of these conclusions for career development

An innovative approach for hyperproduction of cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic enzymes by consortium of Aspergillus niger MSK-7 and Trichoderma viride MSK-10

The present work describes the production of cellulolytic enzymes (CMC-ase, FP-ase, β-glucosidase) and hemicellulolytic enzyme (xylanase) along with total extracellular protein by Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma viride using submerged fermentation. Among seven different kinds of experiments, secretion rate of protein and enzymes was investigated by mono- and co-cultures of A. niger and T. viride using wheat bran as substrate with the supply of Eggins and Pugh salt medium. Co-culture of A. niger and T. viride (when both were mixed together simultaneously) gave 30-50% higher production of total protein (0.58 mg/ml) and enzymes; CMC-ase (2.79 U/ml/min), FP-ase (1.75 U/ml/min) and xylanase (189.7 U/ml/min) than mono-cultures and all other combinations. Biosynthesis of β-glucosidase was found higher i.e., 4.66 U/ml/min in co-culture of A. niger and T. viride (when T. viride was mixed with 24 hours old culture of A. niger). Simultaneous co-culture of A. niger and T. viride was further optimized with fermentation rate, different carbon sources, incubation temperature and different pH of fermentation media.Key words: Strain compatibility, co-culture, mono-culture, fermentation

Factors leading to delayed and challenging presentation of benign breast lumps in young females

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A delayed presentation of benign breast diseases may lead to a therapeutic challenge when they enlarge enormously or become multiple. Aim of this study was to evaluate the factors leading to delayed presentation of benign breast lumps. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Madinah Teaching Hospital and Allied Hospital, Faisalabad from January 2019 to October 2021. One hundred and forty five female patients were selected by non-probability purposive sampling. Patients with large size (>5cm) or multiple benign breast lumps were included. An interview was conducted using structured questionnaire translated in Urdu. Factors leading to delayed presentation and social impact scale for stigma were evaluated. RESULTS: Patients had a mean age of 26.52 ± 6.90 years. The average delay of seeking medical care was 8.48 ± 8.41 months. Factors leading to delayed presentation were; lack of knowledge n=112 (77.2%) and parda (religious issues) n=112 (77.2%), followed by poverty n=109 (75.2%), and fear of cancer n=90 (62.1%). All the sub-scales of stigma, i.e., social rejection, financial insecurity, internalized shame and social isolation were high in late presenters, though, only financial insecurity was significantly high in late presenters (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Lack of awareness, socioeconomic factors and disease related stigma were the main factors related to delayed presentation in young females with benign breast diseases. Addressing these factors may improve timely diagnosis and management of delayed and challenging cases

DNA Barcoding: Amplification and sequence analysis of rbcl and matK genome regions in three divergent plant species

Background: DNA barcoding is a novel method of species identification based on nucleotide diversity of conserved sequences. The establishment and refining of plant DNA barcoding systems is more challenging due to high genetic diversity among different species. Therefore, targeting the conserved nuclear transcribed regions would be more reliable for plant scientists to reveal genetic diversity, species discrimination and phylogeny.Methods: In this study, we amplified and sequenced the chloroplast DNA regions (matk+rbcl) of Solanum nigrum, Euphorbia helioscopia and Dalbergia sissoo to study the functional annotation, homology modeling and sequence analysis to allow a more efficient utilization of these sequences among different plant species. These three species represent three families; Solanaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Fabaceae respectively. Biological sequence homology and divergence of amplified sequences was studied using Basic Local Alignment Tool (BLAST).Results: Both primers (matk+rbcl) showed good amplification in three species. The sequenced regions reveled conserved genome information for future identification of different medicinal plants belonging to these species. The amplified conserved barcodes revealed different levels of biological homology after sequence analysis. The results clearly showed that the use of these conserved DNA sequences as barcode primers would be an accurate way for species identification and discrimination.Conclusion: The amplification and sequencing of conserved genome regions identified a novel sequence of matK in native species of Solanum nigrum. The findings of the study would be applicable in medicinal industry to establish DNA based identification of different medicinal plant species to monitor adulteration