Factors Influencing on Stock Market in Pakistan

The stock market is an economic institution that promotes the growth and development of the economy of a nation. This paper investigated the impact of inflation on stock market performance .The aim of this research to find out factors which have great impact on stock market performance of any country. This study discusses the main variable like interest rate and inflation rate and their effect on stock market performance. This study investigated that interest and inflation rate has significant negative relation with stock market performance, while in regression analysis it has been observed that the value of R2 = 0.62 means model is fit and can predict outcome. This study provides valuable knowledge to the government, economist and shareholders to jug the position of stock market for investment purpose. Keywords: Stock Market Performance, Inflation Rate, Interest Rat

Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Sediments Collected from River Ravi and its Tributaries between its stretches from Shahdara to Balloki Headworks, Pakistan

Contaminated bed sediments of fresh water bodies have a potentiality of polluting and rendering the water unfit for aquatic life. Though Pakistan has banned on the use of Organochlorine and Nitrogen containing pesticides, but no proper attention is being paid on the continuous monitoring and assessment of these banned pesticides to make sure that these banned pesticides are not in practice. Levels of selected organochlorine and nitrogen containing pesticides residues were assessed in sediments collected from eighteen sampling sites of River Ravi and its tributaries by GC-ECD method. All sediments samples were found contaminated with varying concentrations of pesticides residues, however levels of pesticides were below the tolerance limits suggested in national and international standards. Endosulfan was the predominant organochlorine pesticide residue in all sediment samples, while Carbofuran was found in least amounts as compared with other pesticides. After Degh fall and After Hudiara nulla fall river sampling sites were found severely contaminated while, among tributaries Degh fall and Hudiara drain were found highly severely contaminated with DDT, DDE, Endosulfan and Carbofuran. Constant monitoring programs are needed to be initiated to reform the present situation. Key words: Sediments, Organochlorine, Endosulfan, Carbofuran, GC-EC

A cytogenic monitoring approach of hospital workers occuptionally exposed to ionizing radiations using micronucleus assay

Background: The objective of this study was to determine chromosomal damage in occupational workers of the radiation department from three different hospitals, Faisalabad, Pakistan exposed for a long term to ionizing radiations using micronucles (MN) assay. A comparison between exposed and non-exposed subjects (controlled) of same age exhibited a significant an increase in the number of micronuclei in occupational workers. MN frequency increases with an increase in age and duration of exposure in both sexes but higher in females.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at the District Head Quarter Hospital (DHQ), Punjab Institute of Nuclear Medicine (PINUM) and Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan. The total 145 subjects were selected from these hospitals. The subjects were divided into two groups. The control group (N= 40) (20 males and 20 females) of healthy subjects (no exposure) and the second group of subjects (N=105) (68 males and 37 females) subjects of occupational workers who were indirectly exposed to radiation. Blood samples (2ml) were collected in sodium heparinised vaccutainer tubes through venipuncture from both the groups. Disposable syringes were used for this purpose. For the evaluation of MN yield, slides were prepared by following the method of Jorge et al. (2004).Results: A significant difference in micro nuclear induction was observed between the occupational subjects and the control subjects and as well as in females and in males (P < 0.01). Females are more vulnerable to ionizing radiation than males. In females, MN yield was two times higher than males. MN frequency was increased with an increase in age and duration of exposure in both sexes, but higher in females and may be due to an increase in chromosomal loss in hospital workers. There is an individual response to the physical noxa, depending on sex, age and exposure. Smoking and drinking habits do not have a significant effect in increasing the number of MN in occupationally exposed workers.Conclusion: It was concluded that females are more vulnerable to ionizing radiations than males. MN test can be used as a biomarker with a predictive value for the estimation in occupationally exposed subjects.Key Words: Radiations; Hospital workers; Sex; Micronucleus assay; Chromosomal damag

Efecto del grado de maduración en el perfil de ácidos grasos de diferentes tejidos de rohu (Labeo rohita) salvaje y criado

During the breeding season, lots of physiological changes occur in the bodies of fish which lead to other phenotypical, anatomical and behavioral changes. To evaluate the impact of breeding on the bodily composition of fish, tests were conducted to determine the fatty acid profile of the brooder and Non-brooder wild and farmed fish. Samples were analyzed by gas liquid chromatography using a flame ionization detector.There are non significant differences in the amount of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in wild and farmed nonbrooder fish whereas in case of brooder there are significant differences. Brooder farmed fish contained more saturates in gonads approximately twice that of wild fish with C16:0 as the dominating fatty acid. C18:2n-6 and C20:5n-6 were the dominating unsaturated fatty acids in the gonads. Non-brooder fish contained more unsaturated fatty acids in the meat as compared to the brooder fish and farmed fish contained higher amounts of saturated fatty acids as compared to wild fish. C18:1n-9 and C20:4n-6 fatty acids were found in higher quantities and among the saturated acids, C16:0 is the dominating one. More or less similar results were found in the case of the liver fatty acid profile of breeding and nonbreeding fish. Fish of lower weight categories contained more unsaturated fatty acids and so better for consumption to leave the brooders of higher weight categories for the breeding of future generation.Durante la época de reproducción numerosos cambios fisiológicos ocurren en el cuerpo de los peces que guían a cambios anatómicos y de comportamiento. Para evaluar el impacto de la etapa de reproducción en la composición de los peces, ensayos para determinar el perfil de ácidos grasos fueron conducidos en peces salvajes y criados, en dos categorías de peso, maduro (booder) o inmaduro (non-brooder). Las muestras fueron analizadas por cromatografía de gases usando un detector de ionización de llama. No hubo diferencias significativas en la cantidad de ácidos grasos saturados e insaturados en peces salvajes o criados non-brooder mientras que en el caso de los brooder sí hubo diferencias significativas. Los peces brooder criados contienen más ácidos grasos saturados; en gónadas aproximadamente el doble que los salvajes con el C16:0 como el ácido graso dominante. C18:2n-6 y C20:5n-6 fueron los ácidos grasos insaturados dominantes en las gónadas. Los peces non-brooder contienen más ácidos grasos insaturados en la carne que los peces brooder y los peces criados contienen mayores cantidades de ácidos grasos saturados en comparación con los peces salvajes. Los ácidos grasos C18:1n-9 y C20:4n-6 fueron encontrados en cantidades más altas y entres los saturados el C16:0 fue uno de los principales. Resultados más o menos similares fueron encontrados en el caso del perfil de ácidos grasos de hígados de peces en etapas de reproducción y no reproducción. Los peces de la categoría de pesos más bajos contienen más ácidos grasos insaturados y son mejores para el consumo y permite la cría de peces de peso más alto

Human capital formation and economic development in Pakistan: an empirical analysis

There is widely accepted concept in economic theory that human capital plays positive role in determining national income. Formation or accumulation of human capital and economic development for human welfare are the major targets of economic policy of each country. This study investigates the casual relationship between economic development and formation of human capital in Pakistan. Based on endogenous growth theory, this study empirically test the standard growth model consisting of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita as a dependent variable and human capital formation, investment in physical capital and labor force as independent variables. Auto Regressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) bound testing approach to co-integration is used to check the long run equilibrium relationship between the variables included in the model. For checking the causal relationship between economic development and human capital formation, Pair-wise Granger Causality test is utilized using the time series data ranging from 1972 to 2009. The results of the co-integration show that the variables are co-integrated. They have long run stable equilibrium relationship. The results of the causality test show that there is bidirectional causal relationship between economic development and human capital formation

Some socio-economic determinants of fertility in Pakistan: an empirical analysis

This study is aimed at empirical investigation of the role that various socio-economic factors like female education, urbanization and female labour force participation play in determining fertility of women in Pakistan. ARDL bound testing approach to co-integration is used to analyze the long run relationship of the variables by using the data for the period of 1980 to 2009. Empirical results show that there exists a long run as well as short run relationship between fertility and urbanization, female labour force participation and female education in Pakistan. The analysis indicates that there is negative relationship between all three determinants with fertility. Female education and urbanization of the society play significant role in reducing fertility but the role of female participation in labour force seems to be in insignificant in fertility reduction in Pakistan

Some socio-economic determinants of fertility in Pakistan: an empirical analysis

This study is aimed at empirical investigation of the role that various socio-economic factors like female education, urbanization and female labour force participation play in determining fertility of women in Pakistan. ARDL bound testing approach to co-integration is used to analyze the long run relationship of the variables by using the data for the period of 1980 to 2009. Empirical results show that there exists a long run as well as short run relationship between fertility and urbanization, female labour force participation and female education in Pakistan. The analysis indicates that there is negative relationship between all three determinants with fertility. Female education and urbanization of the society play significant role in reducing fertility but the role of female participation in labour force seems to be in insignificant in fertility reduction in Pakistan

A CYTOGENIC MONITORING APPROACH OF HOSPITAL WORKERS OCCUPTIONALLY EXPOSED TO IONIZING RADIATIONS USING MICRONUCLEUS ASSAY

Background: The objective of this study was to determine chromosomal damage in occupational workers of the radiation department from three different hospitals, Faisalabad, Pakistan exposed for a long term to ionizing radiations using micronucles (MN) assay. A comparison between exposed and non-exposed subjects (controlled) of same age exhibited a significant an increase in the number of micronuclei in occupational workers. MN frequency increases with an increase in age and duration of exposure in both sexes but higher in females. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at the District Head Quarter Hospital (DHQ), Punjab Institute of Nuclear Medicine (PINUM) and Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan. The total 145 subjects were selected from these hospitals. The subjects were divided into two groups. The control group (N= 40) (20 males and 20 females) of healthy subjects (no exposure) and the second group of subjects (N=105) (68 males and 37 females) subjects of occupational workers who were indirectly exposed to radiation. Blood samples (2ml) were collected in sodium heparinised vaccutainer tubes through venipuncture from both the groups. Disposable syringes were used for this purpose. For the evaluation of MN yield, slides were prepared by following the method of Jorge et al. (2004). Results: A significant difference in micro nuclear induction was observed between the occupational subjects and the control subjects and as well as in females and in males (P < 0.01). Females are more vulnerable to ionizing radiation than males. In females, MN yield was two times higher than males. MN frequency was increased with an increase in age and duration of exposure in both sexes, but higher in females and may be due to an increase in chromosomal loss in hospital workers. There is an individual response to the physical noxa, depending on sex, age and exposure. Smoking and drinking habits do not have a significant effect in increasing the number of MN in occupationally exposed workers. Conclusion: It was concluded that females are more vulnerable to ionizing radiations than males. MN test can be used as a biomarker with a predictive value for the estimation in occupationally exposed subjects

A STUDY ON CHRONIC EFFECT OF PROFENOFOS ON ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE AND BUTYRYLCHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITIES AND PROTEIN CONTENTS IN VARIOUS TISSUES IN MAJOR CARPS

Background: Pesticides widely used for agricultural purposes are carbamates, organophosphates as well as organochlorines. Among these pesticides, organochlorine compounds have been extensively used to control disease vectors as well as agricultural pests. The objective of this experiment was to study the chronic effect of a commercial formulation of profenofos on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butylcholinesterase (BuChE) activity in various tissues in Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala fingerlings was investigated. Materials and Methods: Healthy fingerlings of Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala with an average body length 90±6 mm and 30.00±2.00 g body weight were collected from the fish seed hatchery and brought to the laboratory. Fishes were maintained in 70 litter glass aquaria (27 ± 1oC, 2.70–2.80 ms and 8.85–9.40 pH). The fingerlings of Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala were exposed to the 3 sub lethal concentrations of profenofos (0.038, 0.019, 0.012; 0.06, 0.03, 0.02 and 0.041, 0.020 and 0.013 mg/L) for 8 weeks. The control experiments were also performed with the addition of carrier solvent alone. Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase level were estimated according to the methodology of Ellman et al. (1961) and Kuster (2005). Total soluble proteins were determined by the Bradford (1976) standard method to assess enzymatic activity of the protein. Results: The least activity of AChE was recorded in muscle samples of Catla catla (1.07±0.040 μmoles/min/g of protein), exposed to the highest concentration of profenofos. BuChE activity was also reduced against various concentrations of profenofos. The AChE and BuChE activity was significantly inhibited even when exposed to a minimum concentration of this insecticide. Profenofos exposure affected the functioning of brain, blood, gills, muscle, kidneys and liver. We concluded that profenofos caused more inhibition in the liver for AChE and BuChE compared to other tissues. Conclusion: It has been concluded that profenofos is very highly toxic to the C. catla, L. rohita and C. mrigala fingerlings, but further studies are required to assign a certain level of toxicity to the said pesticide. Considering the high toxicity of profenofos, it is suggested to handle the profenofos carefully using all the precautionary measures in order to minimize the harmful effects on non-target organisms