Detection of beet necrotic yellow vein virus in Pakistan using bait-plant bioassay, ELISA and RT-PCR

The Northwestern plains of Pakistan are the major sugar beet producing region in the country, providing an important alternative to sugar cane for sugar production when sugar cane is absent in the fields. We surveyed this region for four consecutive years and found that Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) is prevalent in at least five of these districts (Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan and Swabi). An increase in virus incidence was observed in 2012 as compared to previous years (2009 to 2011) in all the sugar beet growing districts surveyed. The identity of the virus was confirmed using bait bioassay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) and infectivity assay in roots and leaves of bait plants and sugar beet commercial cultivars. The results indicate that the virus was detected in at least 17 (out of 20) locations and all the four sugar beet cultivars commercially grown in the region were found susceptible to the virus. Our results indicate that bait plant bioassay, ELISA, RT-PCR and infectivity assay can efficiently detect BNYVV in roots and leaves of baited plants, field samples and sugar beet cultivars commercially grown in the region. This is the first report of BNYVV in Pakistan using both conventional and molecular techniques.Keywords: Detection, BNYVV, plant bioassay, ELISA, RT-PCR, sugar beet, Pakista

Empirical Relationship between Operational Efficiency and Profitability (Evidence from Pakistan Exploration Sector)

This study is a part of our course work. In this study the operational efficiency of firms is checked against profitability. For the purpose of research oil and gas sector of Pakistan stock exchange is selected. Six years data from 2010-2015 is collected through financial reports of companies. Since efficiency can be measured through several financial ratios. In this article total asset turnover, fixed assets turnover, debtors turnover are used as explanatory variables and current ratio and quick ratio as control variables. The profitability of firms is measured through return on equity. Ordinary least square, correlation matrix and descriptive statistics are used to describe the findings of the study and features of the data. The results of the study show that the total assets turnover, debtors turnover and quick ratio have strong negative impacts on the profitability measured by ROE, of firms. The current ratio and fixed asset turnover have positive impacts on the return on equity. The results of the study support the hypothesis that efficiency as measured by (total assets turnover, debtors’ turnover, quick ratio current ratio and fixed asset turnover) has impacts on the profitability of firms

Inter-Linkage between FDI, Imports and Exchange Rate: An Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a very important phenomenon of the millennium. It is considered a substitute and complementary for trade. Numerous researches regarding FDI and imports have been conducted, and contradictory results on complex relationship between FDI and Imports are found. The vector error correction model (VECM) and linear hypothesis testing have been applied by considering exchange rate as supplement for better and accurate modelling. The results of the study indicated short run as well as highly significant long run relationship among all variables under study. For imports causality runs from FDI to imports indicating FDI to be complementary variable for imports. Govt needs to implement policies which must boost up exports but curtail imports burden. In order to generate employment and reduce the balance of payments problems, it is therefore, suggested that government should opt and encourage FDI policies relevant to export oriented industries like manufacturing and production sectors along with the exploration of natural resources. Policies should aim to encourage FDI in industrial sector where the surge in import bill is compensated with export performance of the firms. Keywords: Foreign Direct Investment, Imports, Exchange rate and VECM

Translation of Human Resource into a Human Capital

Abstract The process of understanding the model of conversion of human resource into human capital in strategic business terms has just begun. Human Capital is the strategic and coherent approach to the management of an organisation's most valued assetsthe people working there who individually and collectively contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the business and this human resource is totally dependent on the behaviors of all the managers and organizational development practitioners because individual and collective behaviors are the creators of an organization's culture and structure. Research on human capital as followed several trajectories; the extent of conversion of human resource into human capital, conversion process of human resource in to human capital and factors contributing to human capital theory. This research uses the cases of conversion process of human resource in to human capital with its affecting factors. This research has the edge of authenticity and reliability of all of its contents as it is done by questioning 98 top level managers of human resource intensive organization of Pakistan. The researchers find that the organizations need a series of interventions in the process of conversion of human resource in to human capital for prosperity

Identification of Perna viridis based on mitochondrial COI sequence

The Asian green mussel (Perna viridis), a bivalve species of high economic importance, is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region. Here, we aimed to investigate the P. viridis species from Pakistan, a biogeographic area where nearly no P. viridis species were genetically characterized using mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) gene to correlate it with morphologically identified species of other countries. Our results of Basic Local Alignment search Tool (BLAST) analyses show 98.7% similarity with the partial sequences of P. viridis reported from India. This study confirmed the molecular identification of P. viridis for the first time from Karachi, Pakistan and this finding is important for further taxonomic identification

Sonographic Evaluation of Cholelithiasis and Its Correlation with Normal/Fatty Liver

Cholelithiasis and Fatty Liver disease are usually observed to coexist. Patients who have gallstones also have Fatty Liver as both of the conditions have same associated risk factors I.e., diabetes mellitus, gender, age, obesity, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and high lipids level. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is also an independent accountable risk factor for the formation of gallstones. We aimed to determine whether there is any correlation between cholelithiasis and fatty liver disease. The study was conducted in Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. The data was collected from March 24,2021 to May 24,2021. Informed consent was taken from all the participants. We did a cohort study comprising the data of 51 patients undergoing physical checkup. The data gathered included age, gender and whether they had normal or fatty liver. Cholelithiasis was diagnosed by confirming the presence of gallstones on abdominal ultrasonography after fasting for approximately 8hrs. it was an observational study for the assessment of correlation between cholelithiasis and fatty liver in the participants. A Total of 51 patients with cholelithiasis were included in our study. Most of the patients were 29 to 70 years of age. The average age of the patients was 42.3 ± 10.1 years. Out of 51 patients, there were 60.8% (P=31) females and 39.2%(P=20) males. Out of 51 cholelithiasis patients there were 31.4%(P=16) had Normal Liver and 68.6%(P=35) were positive with Fatty liver disease. Patients with stone size ranges from 1.90mm to 4.6mm hade Grade 1 Fatty liver as shown in table-5.4, Grade 2 Fatty liver was seen in patients with stone size ranges from 4.5mm to 5.8mm. Fatty liver Grade 3 was not observed in any included patient with cholelithiasis. Results of our study showed that both cholelithiasis and Fatty Liver disease are correlated with each other. Females are at higher risk to be affected by these with diseases. Early detection of Fatty liver in patients of cholelithiasis can help patients to prevent them further complications regarded to fatty liver and cholelithiasis and can play important role in health care of society. Keywords: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Cholelithiasis, Fatty liver, Ultrasonography. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/91-07 Publication date:July 31st 202

Botryosphaeria dieback in vineyards: conidial dispersal, infection, disease development and control

Botryosphaeria dieback is a major trunk disease of grapevines worldwide that has been recognised for its importance during the last 15-20 years. This disease causes direct losses by killing canes, arms and vines, which ultimately reduce yields in the vineyards. There are five Botryosphaeriaceae species that commonly infect grapevines in New Zealand vineyards, although many more species have been reported worldwide. Reports on pathogenicity and epidemiology overseas have shown large variation between the predominant species in different countries and so this research aimed to improve understanding of spore production, dispersal and infection dynamics for the most common species within a Marlborough vineyard setting. Pathogenicity testing with multiple isolates of Neofusicoccum luteum and N. parvum showed that all isolates caused disease of different grapevine stem tissues, with great differences in symptoms and conidial release between isolates of each species. Overall trends showed that N. luteum caused longer lesions and produced more conidia than N. parvum and isolates of both species released conidia at all temperatures (10-25ºC) and relative humidities (80-100%), although maximum conidial release occurred at 25ºC and 100% RH. Cirrhi were also observed in vineyards in moist conditions. Rainwater run-off and Burkard spore traps collected Botryosphaeriaceae conidia in three Marlborough vineyards in 2013 and 2015. The conidia were found only during rainfall and up to 2 h after rainfall ceased, release occurring after as little as 0.2 mm rain and conidial numbers were generally greater for greater rainfall. Identification of species trapped by single stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) indicated presence of N. luteum, N. parvum/ribis, N. australe, D. mutila and D. seriata. Within vineyards, conidia of a marker isolate of N. parvum were shown to disperse during 2 days rain, up to 10 m in the wind direction and up to 5 m in other directions. Further, these conidia caused many infections of newly trimmed shoots up to 2 cm from the conidial source. Conidia of N. luteum and N. parvum were able to infect 100% of wounds on green shoots and trunks of potted vines for 7 days after wounding. Incidence decreased with increasing age of wounds, with hard shoots being susceptible until 56 days old and trunk wood until 28 days old. Incidences and colonisation distances were also affected by the seasons, being highest in autumn and spring, and lowest in winter and summer. Also different conidial numbers (2-100) affected incidences and colonisation distances on wounded stems of vines with as little as 2 conidia causing 100% infection incidence of wounded green shoots and 67% incidence of trunks. The pathogen infected the underlying tissues after spray application of conidia onto non-wounded cane and trunk bark, and progressed rapidly towards nearby wounds made later. Also infection through lenticels was observed by fluorescence microscopy. Wounded leaf buds, and berries on potted vines and in the vineyards were able to be infected at all stages of growth tested, but non-wounded buds and berries also become infected at late stages of development. Infection progressed from the buds into the developing green shoots and supporting canes, and from berries into the bunch stems and supporting canes. Experiments using a range of treatments to prevent infection of wounds in stem and trunk tissues of vines grown in pots and a in a vineyard showed that Cheif®, Megastar® and Folicur® were most effective at reducing infection by N. luteum and N. parvum, when inoculation was carried out 2 h, 7 and 14 days after treatment and with 2-600 conidia. The biological control product, TRI D25, was as effective as Megastar® when inoculation occurred 7-14 days after treatment, but only on potted vines. These treatments also reduced colonisation distances greatly within inoculated tissues which indicated potential for control by pruning. This research has provided new information on the disease cycle of Botryosphaeriaceae diseases in vineyards. It has elucidated effects of environmental conditions on release and dispersal of conidia. These studies also demonstrated the effects of some host, environmental and pathogen factors on infection of pruning and trimming wounds and disease development in the various types of stem tissues, and that infection may take place in non-wounded shoots of living vines. The potential infection of leaf buds and berries and sporulation from berries were also demonstrated. Some control products were shown to be effective in preventing infection but limitations on their use indicates the need for integrated control methods which also aim to reduce inoculum sources in vineyards