Challenges and Prospects of Micro Finance Institutions A Detailed Study in India and Saudi Arabia

This paper is an attempt to explore some major challenges as well as prospects to the successful provision of micro financing in India and Saudi Arabia that can be stated as improved governance, professional management, improved internal transparency, lowering costs, better targeting of the low income group, expanding beyond credit to meet the diverse needs of borrowers, and a better financial infrastructure.The question arises here is if  the transformation from an NGO to NBFC helps or hinders an MFI’s ability to meet these challenges.This study explores the growth and status of Microfinance in India and Saudi Arabia during 2015-16.This further explores the salient features of MFIs both in India and Saudi Arabia perspective. Keywords: Microfinance, Solvency, Risk, Return, Non Performing Assets (NPAs), Strategic Management Framework

Quality assurance audit in adult cardiac anaesthesia

Objective: To assess different anaesthesia-related quality indicators during adult cardiac surgery.Methods: The prospective clinical audit was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from October 2016 to March 2017, and comprised all adult patients scheduled for cardiac surgery. Different anaesthesia-related quality indicators were observed during the pre-induction phase, before the cardiopulmonary bypass, during the procedure, and post-surgery till the transfer from the operating room to the cardiac intensive care unit. Data was analysed using SPSS 19.Results: Of the 264 patients, 217(82.2%) had complete record; 160(73.7%) males and 57(26.3%) females. The overall mean age was 56.56±12.46 years. In the pre-induction phase, difficult intravenous and invasive line access was seen in 42(19.3%) patients. Inappropriate information in the preoperative form was found in 6(2.8%) patients, and preoperative drugs for anxiolysis were used in 145(66.8%) patients. Haemodynamic issues were significant during the surgery in 15(6.9%) patients. In the post-surgery period, abnormal activated clotting time was found in 17(7.8%) patients, while monitoring problems were faced in 7(3.2%) cases during transfer to cardiac intensive care unit.Conclusions: It will help to develop quality improvement policies to enhance patient safety, satisfaction and better outcome

A Time-Series Analysis of Economic Growth in the Context of Indian Economy

India has a sizable and successful consumer class, which is critical given that household consumption accounts for 60% of GDP. Total market value is calculated by adding the monetary or market values of all final goods and services produced inside a nation's borders. Additionally, the gross domestic product at market value (GDP at market value) may be employed to reflect this total market value. Total domestic production is defined in terms of GDP to assess the economy's health. GDP is computed on a quarterly or yearly basis, depending on the state of the economy at the moment. Human capital is a country's most important natural resource, and it must be used appropriately and acknowledged to accomplish long-term economic goals sustainably. India is the world's second-most populated nation, with 1.3 billion people behind China. According to the World Bank, India's global influence has grown in lockstep with its consistent economic success. Compared to wealthier nations, emerging countries have several obstacles, including a lack of infrastructure and a low per capita income. Another issue that has to be addressed is the growth of rural economic systems. According to some experts, India's current economic instability will culminate in an unprecedented economic boom, which they believe has already begun

An Empirical Study of Technological Innovations in the Field of Accounting - Boon or Bane

In this paper researchers make an attempt by doing intense work that how technological innovations make jobs of accountant so easy from their routine jobs from posting to generating accounting statements etc. with the help of available software and technology in accounting field.Technological innovations have changed an obstructed job of accountant into easier one and that too rapid and accurate, with these developments researchers have found and witnessed that it has affected erstwhile as it has restricted entry for so many into an accounting field  as jobs of accountants have shrunk and in few hands who are technology accelerators and technology driven.Researchers have shown how technology has affected the outcome and impact on business in terms of accuracy, pace and swiftness.Researchers have made an attempt to explore various cause and effect relationship between available software in accounting, technology and accountants.In their intense and in depth research we have designed questionnaire comprised of many questions in which respondents are selected from top management, employees and included job seekers too in order to receive their unbiased responses during primary data collection.Wherever found necessary researchers have taken secondary data also to make study more accurate, interesting and feasible

Vivax malaria and chloroquine resistance: a neglected disease as an emerging threat

In Pakistan, Plasmodium vivax contributes to major malaria burden. In this case, a pregnant woman presented with P. vivax infection and which was not cleared by chloroquine, despite adequate treatment. This is probably the first confirmed case of chloroquine-resistant vivax from Pakistan, where severe malaria due to P. vivax is already an emerging problem

Comparison between intravenous boluses versus infusion of tranexamic acid (TXA) to reduce bleeding in paediatric cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) surgeries

Objective: To compare the intravenous boluses and intravenous continuous infusion of tranexamic acid (TXA) to reduce postoperative bleeding in cyanotic congenital heart disease surgeries. Study Design: Single-blinded randomised clinical trial. Place and Duration of Study: Anaesthesia Department, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from July 2016 to April 2017.Methodology: Sixty patients of cyanotic congenital heart disease, undergoing either palliative or corrective surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), were recruited. These 60 patients were divided randomly into two groups. The infusion group received intravenous infusion of TXA at 5 mg/kg/hour while the bolus group received three intravenous boluses of 10 mg/kg after induction, after going to bypass and after protamine reversal. Data was collected through predesigned proforma. There were two primary outcomes: postoperative bleeding in the first 24 hours, and chest closure time.Results: Postoperative bleeding was 13.94 (10.27-20.18) ml/kg in the first 24 hours in infusion group and 15.05 (9.04- 23.50) ml/kg in the bolus group. Chest closure time was 38.5 (25-45) in infusion group and 30 (20-46.25) minutes in the bolus group. There was no statistically significant and clinical difference between both groups regarding postoperative bleeding in the first 24 hours and chest closure time.Conclusion: These infusion and bolus groups had comparable postoperative bleeding and chest closure time

Identification and characterization of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> O-acetylserine-dependent cystathionine β-synthase, a distinct member of the PLP-II family

O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase (OASS) and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) are members of the PLP-II family, and involved in L-cysteine production. OASS produces L-cysteine via a de novo pathway while CBS participates in the reverse transsulfuration pathway. O-acetylserine-dependent CBS (OCBS) was previously identified as a new member of the PLP-II family, which are predominantly seen in bacteria. The bacterium Helicobacter pylori possess only one OASS (hp0107) gene and we showed that the protein coded by this gene actually functions as an OCBS and utilizes L-homocysteine and O-acetylserine (OAS) to produce cystathionine. HpOCBS did not show CBS activity with the substrate L-serine and required OAS exclusively. The HpOCBS structure in complex with methionine showed a closed cleft state, explaining the initial mode of substrate binding. Sequence and structural analyses showed differences between the active sites of OCBS and CBS, and explain their different substrate preferences. We identified three hydrophobic residues near the active site of OCBS, corresponding to one serine and two tyrosine residues in CBSs. Mutational studies were performed on HpOCBS and Saccharomyces cerevisiae CBS. A ScCBS double mutant (Y158F/Y226V) did not display activity with L-serine, indicating indispensability of these polar residues for selecting substrate L-serine, however, did show activity with OAS.</p

Diagnostic TCD for intracranial stenosis in acute stroke patients: experience from a tertiary care stroke center in Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: Stroke is a common cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. Intracranial large artery atherosclerosis (ICAD) is a frequent etiology of stroke in the South Asian population. There is a need for widely available screening tools to identify patients that are at high risk of stroke due to ICAD for aggressive risk management. This study describes the experience of using the transcranial Doppler (TCD) as a screening tool for this purpose at a tertiary care hospital in a developing country. Methods: 86 Patients admitted with stroke due to ICAD underwent TCD for six arteries (Right and left middle cerebral arteries, right and left anterior cerebral arteries, right and left posterior cerebral arteries) in addition to the magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) that is done routinely at the stroke center. Arteries were labeled with either50% stenosis by TCD using two separate criteria. These findings were compared with those from the MRA which was used as the gold standard. The proportion of patients that had complete exams (all six arteries insonated by TCD) was reported. The success rate of each TCD criteria in detecting arteries with \u3e50% stenosis was also calculated. Results: There was an attempt to visualize 516 arteries (86 patients with 6 arteries each) of which 375 (72.7%) were successfully insonated. 38 of the 86 (55.8%) patients had complete examinations. MRA reported 43 (8.3%) arteries as stenosed \u3e50%. The TCD did not categorize any artery as stenosed using either criterion and hence failed to classify any stenosed artery correctly. The positive predictive and sensitivity was 0 for this study and the negative predictive value was 93.3%. Conclusions: This study indicates the poor sensitivity of TCD to be a reliable screening tool for the presence of ICAD in the South Asian population in a real life clinical setting

Electric Supply Substation Simulation using ETAP Software

Electric supply substations are vital component of electrical power system that delivers electrical power from generating stations to consumers. Electric supply substation generally deals with high voltage and current ratings, proper analysis and protection is essential for safety of operating staff lives and electrical equipment installed in the vicinity. Malfunctioning of electric supply substation has two drastic effects; one is cost for the replacement of equipment and second is the cost of entire down-time. Analysis and protection of electric supply substation using “Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP)” is presented in this paper. A 132kV electric supply substation was simulated; fault analysis, load flow study and protection scheme was designed that can enhance the performance of Pakistan’s electrical power system

Paediatric respiratory isolation: A challenge for a secondary care hospital! A service innovation project

Objective: The aim of this project was to broaden the secondary care hospital\u27s scope of services and provide safe, effective and quality care for the patient presenting with measles.Methods: Six Sigma DMAIC [define measure, analyze, improve, and control (DMAIC)] methodology was used in this quality improvement project. The quality project was started in October 2015 using a Gantt chart quality tool.Results: The paediatric team with the support of administration of the hospital has established isolation rooms and devised a policy for the care and management of patient with airborne infection to avoid cross transmission. During six months period after establishment of isolation room there were sixty two suspected or confirmed measles cases who were admitted in our hospital, out of them only 4(6.4%) of patients were referred because of their sick condition and need of ventilator support. Further, the percentage of patient\u27s satisfaction level also improved from 60 to 80%.Conclusions: After this clinical service innovation, there was significant reduction in referrals of measles patients to another hospital and consequently there was an increase in the patient\u27s satisfaction