Financial development, fiscal policy and economic growth: The role of institutional quality in Pakistan

The study examines the influence of financial development, fiscal policy , and institutional quality on Pakistan’s economic growth. We investigate whether financial development and or fiscal policies promote economic growth. We also analyse the effect of institutional quality on economic growth in Pakistan. We use time series data from 1985 - 2016 , and use GDP to proxy economic growth. We use unit - root tests to check for stationary of our sample. We perform a logarithmic transformation on the series to reduce outlier effects and use Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Model . The results show that financial development and revenue have a positive impact on growth. Our study results implicate that sound, strategic, and result - oriented policies should be formulated to transform our institutions and financial sectors into the well organized, powerful, and trusted frameworks. These transformations will ensure efficient and productive utilization of savings

THE CHILDHOOD’S TRADITIONAL GAMES AND PHYSICAL FITNESS OF RURAL, URBAN AND PRIVATE SCHOOL GIRLS- A CASE STUDY OF BAHAWALPUR CITY, PAKISTAN

This study was designed in two folds, first) to explore the physical fitness and performance the rural, urban and private school girls in the capacity of traditional games, and second) to examine the relationship between the performance of traditional games and physical fitness. Data were obtained from (n = 120) of school girls of Bahawalpur city, of 11-to-15 years of age. These measurements were attained as stature for height, body mass- for weight, speed test of the 30-meter run, set and reach for flexibility, zig-zag run for agility, standing broad jump for leg power, set-ups for trunk strength, finally skipping rope, and shtapu for traditional games. One-way ANOVA was applied to compare the physical fitness and ability of traditional among groups, and the Pearson product of correlation was applied to examine the relationship between the physical fitness and performance of traditional games. Results exhibited the rural girl's students were significantly superior to the urban school girls in the 30-meter dash. The rural girls were also significantly higher in the performance of skipping rope and shtapu than urban and private school girls. On the other hand, stature, body mass, leg power, zig-zag run, sit-and-reach, trunk strength was a significantly positive correlation with skipping rope and shatpu. The main finding of this study was that traditional games have a strong relationship with the physical fitness of school girls. Therefore, this study suggests the traditional games would be a part of co-curriculum activities in school as well as in the social life of the school girls to improve their physical fitness

ESTABLISHING CORRELATION OF pH WITH VARIOUS PHYSIOCHEMICAL AND TRADITIONAL PARAMETERS OF ACID BASE BALANCE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of Physiochemical versus traditional approach in diagnosing acid-base disorders (ABD). METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 212 patients, admitted during January to June 2020, in intensive care unit of Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar, Pakistan. Samples were obtained from these patients for pH, PCO2, HCO3, lactate, Na, K and Cl processed on Cobas ABG analyzer b 221. Ca, Mg, albumin and phosphate were analyzed on Cobas-601. Data was analyzed to assess the association among different parameters in traditional and Physiochemical approach. RESULTS: Males were predominant in total cohort group (n=125/212; 59%) as well as in metabolic subgroup (n=109/184; 59%). Mean age of males and females was 55.01±11.80 years and 54.99±14.76 years respectively. pH showed a strong negative correlation with PO4 (p-value=0.001) (rs 0.238) in the total cohort of subjects and no significant correlation (p=0.005) (rs -.206) in the metabolic subgroup in physiochemical approach. In traditional approach acid base parameters, Standard Base Excess (SBE) showed strong positive correlation (p=0.001) (rs 0.413 and rs 0.567) and pCO2 showed the strongest negative correlation (p value 0.001) (rs value -0.721 and rs -0.673) with pH in both total cohort and metabolic subgroup. HCO3 (p=0.003) (rs value 0.221) and AG (p=0.024) (rs value -0.167) both showed a significant strong positive and strong negative correlation with pH respectively. CONCLUSION: No significant association between physiochemical parameters and blood pH was found in adults. Traditional approach is the simplest, most rigorous, and useful for diagnosing ABD

Preliminary Phytochemical Screening, Proximate Analysis, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of an Algal Species of Hydrodictyon Reticulatum

The freshwater algae grow in a wide range of aquatic habitats across the globe and are rich in secondary metabolites. The present study was designed to conduct the phytochemical screening, proximate analysis, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of water net (Hydrodictyon reticulatum), an algal weed from Pakistan. The pure and dried algal mass was crushed into a fine powder and four solvent-based extracts were used for phytochemical screening. The results of preliminary qualitative screening indicated the presence of flavonoids, phenols, quinones, steroids, resins, anthraquinones, glycosides, lignin, proteins, saponins, tannins, reducing sugars, alkaloids, terpenoids, fats, and oils, whereas the quantification results revealed the high quantities of total ash, crude proteins, crude fiber, alkaloids, carotenoids, flavonoids, and chlorophyll a. The studied methanolic extracts with maximum concentration (150 μg/ml) showed significantly (p-value ≤ 0.05) higher antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The IC50 values of the crude methanolic extract of water net were found very close to streptomycin (positive control) against both bacterial pathogenic species of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. This study concluded that the crude extracts of water net possessed antibacterial activity at par to streptomycin drug, and requires further detailed study for the separation, identification, and testing of the pure phytochemical compound to be used by the nutraceutical and or pharmaceutical industry

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern among Patients Presenting with Acute Exacerbation of COPD

Background: The irrational use of antibiotics in outpatient as well as indoor patients without studying the culture and sensitivity patterns may have led to resistance in common organisms causing acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The objective of this study was to determine the culture and sensitivity patterns of bacteria in the sputum of patients presenting with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in our population.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Medicine Department, Jinnah Hospital Lahore from 1st January 2018 to 25th June 2018. A total of 215 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD were collected through non-probability consecutive sampling technique. COPD was diagnosed on the basis of history, examination, chest X-ray and spirometry. Acute exacerbation was taken as an acute rise in one or more of the following; sputum volume and/or purulence, frequency and severity of cough and dyspnea. Two sputum samples were collected from each patient. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done as per CLSI guidelines. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 21.0. with p-value ≤ 0.05 considered as statistically significant.Results: Among 215 selected cases, 118 (54.88%) were males and 97 (45.12%) were females. A total of 110 (51.16%) cultures were positive and 105 (48.84%) were negative for bacterial growth. Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=69; 62.72%) was the most frequent microorganism in patient’s sputum followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=21; 19.1%) and Staphylococcus aureus (n=20; 18.2%). Regarding sensitivity pattern, amikacin was found to be the most sensitive antibiotic against these organisms followed by gentamicin and ciprofloxacin.Conclusions: Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common microorganism in the sputum of patients presenting with acute exacerbation of COPD, while amikacin was reported to be most sensitive antibiotic against the microorganism.Key words: Acute exacerbation, Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, COP

Morphological diversity of Morus spp. (Mulberry accessions) grown in Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan

Genetic diversity of thirty mulberry accessions was determined by using the eleven different phenotypic characters. The study was conducted in field areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The main objective of this study was to find out the diversity in morphological characters of Mulberry accessions found in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan. The results showed that there is a significant difference in quantitative parameters among the thirty accessions (p≤0.001). The cluster analysis showed that the data is divided into two main groups at near 80 dissimilarity level. This study suggests that the Morus germplasm is quite diverse

COMPARISON OF TWO DIFFERENT MODALITIES OF BICARBONATE FOR DETERMINATION OF ANION GAP IN CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS

OBJECTIVE: To compare anion gap estimated through measured and calculated bicarbonate modalities to be used interchangeably in critically ill metabolic acidosis patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar, Pakistan from September 2019 to March 2020.  Out of 390 critically ill patients, 200 cases of metabolic acidosis were selected by non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Measured and calculated bicarbonate values were obtained through Cobas-c 501© (Roche) using enzymatic method and Cobas-b 221© (Roche) blood gas analyzer respectively. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS-23. RESULTS: Normal anion gap metabolic acidosis (NAG-MA) and high anion gap metabolic acidosis (HAG-MA) based on calculated bicarbonate levels was observed in 57 (28.5%) and 143 (71.5%) cases as compared to 55 (27.5%) and 145 (72.5%) cases based on measured bicarbonate levels respectively (p>0.45). A significant correlation (r=0.888 and 0.656, r2=0.788 and 0.431) (p<.001) was found between mean values of NAG-MA and HAG-MA respectively, when each was calculated through both modalities of bicarbonate. On applying Bland Altman plot, bias was 1.45±2.89 and -2.14±3.87mmol/L, Upper limit of agreement (LOA) was 7.13 and 5.46 for NAG-MA and HAG-MA, while lower LOA was -4.23 and -9.74 for NAG-MA and HAG-MA respectively. According to the model Bland Altman plot and Story & Postuie criteria, bias and the levels of agreement were not appropriate to conclude that both entities of anion gap could be used interchangeably.  CONCLUSION: Normal and high anion gap metabolic acidosis estimated by measured and calculated bicarbonate cannot be used interchangeably in critically ill patients

Green Nano-synthesis: Salix alba Bark-Derived Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle and their nematicidal Efficacy against root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita

Background: Plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are considered major agriculture pests, causing significant damage to crops by directly targeting the plant root system to prevent water and nutrient uptake. One of its major species, Meloidogyne incognita, is considered a serious threat to agriculture crop production worldwide. The current study was intended to evaluate the potential of Nanoparticles synthesized from Salix alba bark extract as nematicidal agent.Methods: Phytochemical analyses of Salix alba bark extract were conducted, and nanoparticles of the same extract were synthesized and characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, XRD (X-Ray Diffraction), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy) techniques. Results: The qualitative phytochemical analysis of Salix alba bark extract revealed the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, reducing sugars, and saponins. When applied on juveniles of the plant parasitic nematode Meloidogyne incognita, the nanoparticles demonstrated a dose and time-dependent impact. After 24 hours, the highest concentration (1000 µg/ml) of nanoparticles exhibited the greatest mortality, reaching 82.2%, while the lowest concentration resulted in a mortality rate of 34.5%. Similarly, at the 48-hour mark, the highest mortality (92.2%) was observed with 1000 µg/ml of nanoparticles, whereas the lowest concentration yielded a mortality rate of 54.5%. Extending the observation period to 72 hours, the mortality rate peaked at 98.33% with the highest nanoparticle concentration (1000 µg/ml), and the lowest mortality rate was recorded at the lowest dose, amounting to 72.5%. These results underscore the dose and time-dependent efficacy of Salix alba bark-derived nanoparticles against Meloidogyne incognita. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized from Salix alba bark can be an effective agent against plant parasitic nematode Meloidogyne incognita. Further experiments are recommended to study the impact of these nanoparticles on other biotic stresses

Polymers encapsulated aspirin loaded silver oxide nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization and its bio-applications

Simple, facile and cost effective approach is used for the synthesis of Aspirin based silver oxide nano-particles (SONPs) by chemical wet method. The synthesized SONPs were loaded with Aspirin to form Asp-SONPs, which was confirmed with the help of UV spectroscopy. Characterization was done using spectroscopy techniques FTIR, SEM, TEM and XRD. Antimicrobial assay of Asp-SONPs were carried out against six bacterial strains (E. coli, Protues, Vibrio, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, S. aureus) and fungal strains (Curvularia, Alternaria, Rhizopus, Aspergillus, Helmithosporium, Paecilomyces) by well diffusion method which confirmed its potential application as an antimicrobial agent. Asp-SONPs-PVA also displayed highest insecticidal activity against both tested insects (Tribolium casterium and Callosobruchus chinensis) having LC50 value of 15.917, and 37.6365 and highest percent mortality at 1000 ppm was 67%, and 73%, respectively. PVA coated SONPs displayed encouraging phytotoxicity when exposed to allopathic, where Asp-SONPs coated PVA give excellent anthelmintic activity by killing or paralyzing all the species (earthworm) at 1000 ppm