Comparison of the Operative Time and Post-Operative Pain with Peek Cage versus Autologous Iliac Crest Bone Graft in Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

Objective:  To compare the operative time and post-operative pain with PEEK cage method versus autologous iliac crest bone graft in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in the cervical spine. Material & Methods:  This randomized control trial study (RCT). 90 patients with cervical disc disease, cervical stenosis with or without myelopathy and cervical trauma (fractures or facet jumps with disrupted disc) were included in the study from the Department of Neurosurgery, LGH, PINS, Lahore. Patients were evaluated with plain X-rays and MRI scans of the cervical spine. All patients underwent anterior cervical decompression and fusion. In 45 patients (group A), cervical fusion was achieved with PEEK cage method and in other 45 patients (group B), autologous Iliac Crest Bone graft was used. Results:  Mean age in group A was 57.1 years and in group B, it was 54.7 years. In group A, 31.1% patients were of cervical disc disease, 28.8% of cervical degenerative stenosis and 40% were of cervical trauma. In group B, 15 patients 33.3% were of cervical disc disease, 24.4% of cervical degenerative stenosis and 42.2% were of cervical trauma. The mean Postoperative Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score for pain was 2.8 in group A and 5.4 in group B patients. Conclusion:  The patients of group A (PEEK cage method) could be easily mobilized within bed and out of bed depending upon their neurological status. Decreased operative time and less post-operative pain makes PEEK cage method superior to autologous iliac crest bone graft in anterior cervical decompression and fusion

E-government services effectiveness evaluation framework (E-GEEF) : a case study of Indian e-tax service

Technological amplification has expended the involvement of information and communication technology in public sectors and enhanced governmental dependence on information systems which restrains the management attention towards improving the effectiveness of e-government services. Based on the analytical review of literature, it was found that most of the e-government evaluation models address the e-service dimensions that assess the quality of e-government websites. This gives a very constrict perspective to e-government and ignores the key dimensions. It becomes important to understand how citizens perceive and evaluate e-government services. This involves defining what e-government service is, identifying its underlying dimensions, and determining how it can be measured. Therefore, periodical evaluation of the effectiveness of e-government services becomes essential. Foregoing discussion clearly indicates the necessity of developing a well founded e-government e-service effectiveness evaluation framework which not only evaluates the e-government service effectiveness but also evaluates the e-government service quality criteria and the citizens‟ perception in the form of citizens‟ trust in offered e-services. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop a framework (E-GEEF) "e-government service effectiveness evaluation framework" that assesses e-government service effectiveness from the citizens‟ (G2C) perspective. A systematic study of the existing e-government service assessment frameworks has been carried out to establish the basis for conceptualizing a theoretical framework called e-government service effectiveness evaluation framework (E-GEEF). In this research, the author attempts to explore the underlying dimensions and factors of e-government services, and has proposed an effectiveness evaluation framework (E-GEEF). Present empirical research adapted DeLone and McLean, (2003) IS success model as base model which is upgradable and extendable, hence additional dimensions were incorporated to develop a novel framework (E-GEEF) for evaluating the effectiveness of e-government service. The suggested framework has identified number of measuring dimensions and associated items within each dimension for (E-GEEF). System quality, information quality, and service quality dimensions were adopted from DeLone and McLean (2003) IS success model and “intention to use and user satisfaction” dimensions were re-specified in proposed framework (E-GEEF) as “citizens‟ use / usefulness” and “citizens‟ satisfaction”. Further, "citizens" trust, perceived e-government service quality, and perceived effectiveness” were incorporated as new dimensions in the proposed framework (E-GEEF). Three new dimensions were identified and two existing dimensions were re-specified for evaluating the effectiveness of e-government service. Sixteen hypotheses were formulated from literature on existing e-government assessment frameworks to test the proposed framework (E-GEEF). In order to test the proposed framework and their associated dimensions, Indian e-tax service was considered, because e-tax service of Indian e-government is utilized by several Indian citizens for filing their taxes. Preliminary qualitative study was carried out carefully to ensure whether all important dimensions and measurement items were included in the proposed framework E-GEEF in the right research context or not. Empirical research has used quantitative analysis for validating the proposed framework (E-GEEF). Data collection was done using survey which was conducted among citizens of India who have been utilizing e-tax service as users. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed to ensure the data normality by using SPSS 20. Structural equation modeling statistical technique was applied using AMOS 21 on the collected data for testing the hypotheses. The empirical research findings have confirmed most of the hypothesized relationships within the validated framework (E-GEEF). Consequently, in terms of the theoretical implications, this study emphasizes the significance of such hypothesized relationships when performing empirical research in e-government context. Key findings demonstrated the strong relationships of perceived e-government service quality with system quality, information quality, service quality, and citizens‟ satisfaction. Further, citizens‟ trust exhibited direct relationships with perceived e-government service quality and perceived effectiveness of e-government service. Thus, as a major contribution to the proposed research, the identified new dimensions “perceived e-government service quality, citizens‟ trust, perceived effectiveness” and re-specified dimensions “citizens‟ use/usefulness and citizens‟ satisfaction” have shown great significance in evaluating effectiveness of e-government e-tax service in Indian G2C context. The developed and validated framework (E-GEEF) provides government agencies with an appropriate approach and dimensions in order to evaluate the effectiveness of e-government services

Development of Energy Harvesting System Using Rotation Mechanism of a Revolving Door

Conventional Energy sources are depleting with time. There is a dire need to find new sources of energy. The new methods of energy should be able to replace dwindling sources of energy. Energy Harvesting is one such method where ambient energy from environment is converted into useful energy. Unfortunately, there is not enough work done on energy harvesters. The purpose of this project is to show that the abundant ambient energy in the surroundings can be utilized to generate electricity. In this project, the energy used to open a revolving door is being converted into Electrical Energy. Accordingly, a Revolving Door prototype was designed, fabricated and tested. The test results are used to calculate the amount of energy being harvested on one push of the door. This prototype can be further optimized in order to generate more Electrical Energy

Is Innovation in Pakistan Driven by Specialisation or Diversity?

Innovation is among the main drivers of industrial development leading to economic growth. However, the question triggers that what drives innovation? Is innovation driven by specialisation or diversification? The literature has supported both, the specialisation and diversification as driver of innovation. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the determinants of innovation in Pakistan with a special emphasis on specialisation and diversity. The analysis is based on the cross sectional data set of 784 firms across 13 different cities of Pakistan, i.e. Investment Climate Survey (ICS) 2007, compiled by the World Bank Enterprise Group. Our findings have showed the positive relation between innovation and diversity i.e. diversity is conducive to innovation. On the other hand, specialisation has a negative effect i.e. it hinders innovation in cities of Pakistan. JEL Classification: C21, C25, O31, O32 Keywords: Innovation, Specialisation, Diversity, Logistic Regressio

Barriers of Fintech Adoption in MSMEs: Moderating Role of Innovation Culture

Mirco Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are at the core of any economy. The financial inclusion MSMEs is essential for any country that dreams of growth. Fintech-based innovative solutions can come to the aid. Not only do they help MSMEs in acquiring a quick loan through digital and peer-to-peer lending, but they also help them in bookkeeping, wealth management, and risk mitigation. However, even with so many helpful solutions, the adoption of Fintech has been lagging. This study tries to find out what are the apprehensions or barriers among the MSME owner towards Fintech adoption. And how cultural innovation manipulated this relationship. The major contribution of our study will be the identification of the most persistent barriers. The study has high practical value for, Fintech firms, government regulators and policymakers, and MSME owners

Factors Influencing Consumer Acceptance of Mobile Payment during the COVID-19 Pandemic & Usage Continuance Intent: A Quantitative Study

The presence of COVID-19 has transformed the business sector’s paradigm and prompted a speedy consumption of mobile payment software systems of diverse ranges. Corporate sectors and businesses across the globe brought a shift to offer mobile payment methods; consequently, consumers were urged to maximize the use of mobile payment throughout the pandemic. The present research aims to investigate the factors that might influence consumers' intent to accept mobile payments and their relationships during COVID-19. The technology adoption model and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology were employed in this proposed mobile payment adoption framework. A quantitative research approach was identified as a suitable method for this research. An online survey was administered, and 304 participants responded to the questionnaire. The results of the data analysis revealed statistically significant relationships and a positive impact of the factors perceived performance, social influence, consumers’ satisfaction, and perceived usefulness on consumers’ usage continuation intention. However, the results identified that factors such as transaction risk didn’t affect perceived usefulness, and financial transaction transparency didn’t affect consumers’ usage intention. This study makes a substantial contribution to the consumers’ technology acceptance literature in terms of validating a proposed theoretical framework that highlights the factors that influence consumers’ mobile payment usage intentions. As this study was conducted at a later stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, it adds value to the existing literature by providing insights to business managers on the factors influencing mobile payment usage. Considering the practical perspective, this study offers evidence of the essential elements that mobile payment service designers and marketers should consider. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2023-07-05-07 Full Text: PD

Perceptions, knowledge and attitudes towards the concept and approach of palliative care amongst caregivers: A cross-sectional survey in Karachi, Pakistan

Background: Limited comprehension of the concept of palliative care and misconceptions about it are barriers to meaningful utilisation of palliative care programs. As caregivers play an integral role for patients with terminal illness, it is necessary to assess their perceptions and attitudes towards the palliative care approach.Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Data was collected from the Aga Khan Hospital in-patient and out-patient departments and home-based palliative care services. All adult caregivers who met the inclusion criteria and consented, completed a questionnaire till the sample size was reached. Univariate and multivariate multivariable analysis was done and results were reported as crude prevalence\u27s, crude and adjusted prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals using Cox-proportional hazard algorithm. Mean difference of knowledge and attitude scores by caregiver variables were assessed using one-way ANOVA. SPSS version 18 was used and a p-value of less than 5% was treated as significant.Results: Out of 250 caregivers more than 60% were 40 years or less, majority were males and at least graduates. Approximately 70% of the respondents agreed with the statement that the person suffering from cancer should be informed about the diagnosis and disease progression. About 45% (95% C.I.: 39.03, 51.37%) of the study respondents had enhanced understanding about palliative care. Individuals under 40 years old, those with an education level of at least grade 10, children or relatives were found to have significantly more enhanced knowledge about palliative care. The majority believed that the patient should be informed about the diagnosis and should be facilitated to carry out routine activities and fulfill their wishes.Conclusion: Nearly half of the caregivers had enhanced understanding of the palliative care approach. They showed consistent understanding of two foundational aspects indicating correct knowledge across age groups, gender, education level, and relationship with the patient. Firstly, that palliative care should be offered to everyone suffering from a terminal illness and, secondly, that this approach encompasses not just physical, but also psychological and social needs of the patient and the family. These findings will help inform the establishment of a palliative care program that fills the gaps in comprehension and knowledge of caregivers

Income Inequality, Redistribution of Income and Trade Openness

Literature on nexus between trade openness and government spending is impressive [Atif, et al. (2012), Rudra (2004), Dani (1997) and McGuire (1999)]. The literature is growing rapidly. Analysts have documented the positive effects of government social spending [see for example Mesa-Lago (1994); Huber (1996); Weyland (1996); McGuire (1999)]. Unfortunately, Pakistan lacks empirical evidences on the impact of government social spending. Although Government of Pakistan has taken number of initiatives to have some form of redistribution policies, however, inequality in Pakistan is higher as compared to other Least Developed Countries that are open to trade. This situation is alarming. This paper therefore tries to identify the nexus between trade openness and social spending for the period 1975–2012. International evidence suggests that government social spending influences poverty and distribution of income. Pakistan‘s low level achievement in terms of reducing inequality, given the likely adverse economic impact of trade openness, point towards the fact that government has to design the policy in such a way that it affects the distribution of income. Thus, exploring the effect of social spending on income inequality is necessary for the concerned policy makers