The Impact of Health on Economic Growth: A Panel Data Investigation of Asia

This research investigates the relationship between health and economic growth by using a balanced panel of 42 Asian economies over the time period ranging from 1995 to 2016. Panel co-integration test with Dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) are part of our analysis to check the association between health indicator and economic growth of both the genders. This study has positive and statistically significant effect of health changes on per capita income of male and female. Moreover, this research concludes the economic performance has also a significant impact on health improvement ceterus paribus. These findings imply that health improvement policies should be used as apparatus to economic growth and vice versa

Does Financial Development Induce Inflation? ARDL Based Evidence from Pakistan

The study explores the dynamic association of financial expansion in curbing inflation and thereby assessing the general economic welfare strategies employing data over 1974-2016 for Pakistan. Econometric sophistication rests in the employment of autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bound test of co-integration with short run disequilibrium models. The outcome corroborates that inflation and financial development with other controlled variables are co-integrated. The findings also corroborate that broad money, domestic credit to private sector, government expenses, and personal remittances are crucial indicators of financial development and diversely linked with inflation over the period of analysis. Specifically, broad money and government expenses corroborate a long run impact on inflation conforming to the idea of quantity theory of money neutrality. Likewise, domestic credit has shown noteworthy but low positive drive to inflation in long time of span, albeit domestic credit has insignificantly linked to inflation for the short span of time. These findings inter alia imply for the promotion of sound domestic banking/financial sector for credit market and new strategies for controlling the broad money/government expenses to curb the unintended rampant level of inflation in Pakistan

Ideology in English Textbooks: A Case Study of Matric Level Books in Punjab

In many nations debates over the content and format of school textbooks are sites of educational and political conflict. The research argues that school textbook knowledge is socially constructed and textbook contents are manufactured by powerful groups according to their ideological vision. The research covers four dimensions firstly the selection of material and their thematic sequence in the textbooks present Islam not simply as a belief system but a political ideology that must be accepted by all citizens.Secondly; the textbooks offer a biased treatment of non-Muslim citizens in Pakistan, thirdly; the vocabulary in the textbooks underscores Islamic teaching as Hajj, Zakat ,prayers, and little is mentioned about critical thinking, civic participation, or democratic values of freedom of speech, equality, and respect for cultural and religious diversity

20-Gauge vs. 23-Gauge Vitrectomy, in Terms of Surgically Induced Astigmatism

OBJECTIVES To compare the post-operative (post-op) surgically induced mean astigmatism in patients undergoing 20-gauge- and 23-gauge vitrectomy. METHODOLOGY Sixty patients were enrolled. Relevant information was recorded in a Performa for each patient. Patients were randomly grouped into A (20-gauge) and B (23-gauge) groups. Astigmatism was recorded by a single technician using the same keratometer for all patients. A single surgeon operated on all patients. Post-operatively, all patients were re-examined after 1 week and 6 weeks, and their surgically induced astigmatism was recorded. RESULTSOf 60 patients, 58.6% were males, and 41.4% were females, with a mean age of 53.77 ± 9.63 years. The post-operative astigmatism difference between the two vitrectomy procedures was investigated. In the 20-gauge group, with 30 patients, the mean post-operative astigmatism difference was 2.21 D (±0.66 SD), with a standard error mean of 0.12. In the 23-gauge group, with 30 patients, the mean post-operative astigmatism difference was 0.74 D (±0.44 SD), with a standard error mean of 0.08. The degrees of freedom (df) were 58, and the standard error of the difference was 0.145. The t-value was calculated at 10.1504, and the p-value was found to be 0.001, indicating a significant difference. CONCLUSION The observation that the 20-gauge group displayed a notably higher mean difference in astigmatism than the 23-gauge group suggests a potential association between the choice of vitrectomy procedure and the extent of astigmatism alteration in post-operative outcomes

Gender pay gap: A mediating agent of compassion, self-esteem, mindfulness, personal sense of uniqueness and racial socialization for psychological well being

The study measures the impact of compassion on psychological well-being of employees in educational institute of the southern Punjab, Pakistan with mediating role of gender pay gap. The objective of this study is to find out the relationship of compassion, self-esteem, mindfulness, personal sense of uniqueness and racial socialization with psychological well-being of employee and to find indirect relationship using gender pay gap as mediator. A sample of 400 teachers was utilized to find out results of study through Likert scale. Structural Equation Modelling and Multiple Regression analysis have been applied using Smart PLS3. Results found that compassion, mindfulness and racial socialization have significant impact on psychological wellbeing of employee. Mediation effect of gender pay gap has been identified between compassion, self-esteem, personal sense of uniqueness and racial socialization with psychological well-being. This study contributes well to the existing literature by highlighting the influence of the relationship between gender pay gap and psychological wellbeing. According to the findings of this study, it is important to increase compassion, mindfulness, self-esteem, personal sense of uniqueness to improve the welfare of employees, enable them to better deal with gender pay gap and make them psychological well

Sex Differences in the Inflammatory Response to Stroke

Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and disproportionally affects women, in part due to their higher longevity. Older women have poorer outcomes after stroke with high rates of cognitive deficits, depression, and reduced quality of life. Post-stroke inflammatory responses are also sexually dimorphic and drive differences in infarct size and recovery. Factors that influence sex-specific immune responses can be both intrinsic and extrinsic. Differences in gonadal hormone exposure, sex chromosome compliment, and environmental/social factors can drive changes in transcriptional and metabolic profiles. In addition, how these variables interact, changes across the lifespan. After the onset of ischemic injury, necrosis and apoptosis occur, which activate microglia and other glial cells within the central nervous system, promoting the release of cytokines and chemokines and neuroinflammation. Cells involved in innate and adaptive immune responses also have dual functions after stroke as they can enhance inflammation acutely, but also contribute to suppression of the inflammatory cascade and later repair. In this review, we provide an overview of the current literature on sex-specific inflammatory responses to ischemic stroke. Understanding these differences is critical to identifying therapeutic options for both men and women

Local combats global: simulação de personalidade de marca para marcas de té

Brand Personality is the simulacrum of human traits used to describe the personality of brands. In the arena of marketing, firms are struggling hard to impinge their brand image as a person in the minds of its customers. The idea behind is that when a customer perceives its favorite brand as a personality, it will develop certain associations and belongingness for that brand. Customers more affinity to personality of brand leads towards more loyalty and ultimately fruitful for the generic firm who introduced the brand and brand personality for its product. The study empirically assesses the impact of brand personality in the mind of customers for two famous tea brands of Pakistan. Both brands have nearly equal share in the market but one is local and other is global. The data was collected from the territory of Islamabad, Pakistan by taking the sample of 436 in total. By employing the area sampling, data was equally divided into two equal halves of 218 samples respectively. First half of the respondents were the user of local tea brand while the second half of the respondents were the user of global tea brand. Aaker scale of brand personality was employed to measure the personality of tea brands. An independent sample t test was utilized to check the customers differentiation. It was observed that customers perceived the both brands as more rugged and sincere. These characteristics are important and relevant for any tea brand to be successful in the market. That why, both brands are sharing almost equal share in the market. However, global tea brand is perceived more sophisticated, competent and with full of excitement as compared to local brand. At the moment, the disparity of these personality characteristics are not affecting the market share of local brand but it is urged that for long lasting and sustainability competition, the local brand should also focus on the dimensions of brand personality of sophistication, competence and excitement.La personalidad de la marca es el simulacro de los rasgos humanos utilizados para describir la personalidad de las marcas. En el ámbito del marketing, las empresas están luchando mucho para afectar su imagen de marca como persona en la mente de sus clientes. La idea detrás es que cuando un cliente perciba su marca favorita como una personalidad, desarrollará ciertas asociaciones y pertenencias para esa marca. La afinidad de los clientes con la personalidad de la marca conduce a una mayor lealtad y, en última instancia, fructífera para la empresa genérica que introdujo la marca y la personalidad de la marca para su producto. El estudio evalúa empíricamente el impacto de la personalidad de la marca en la mente de los clientes de dos famosas marcas de té de Pakistán. Ambas marcas tienen una participación casi igual en el mercado, pero una es local y la otra es global. Los datos se obtuvieron del territorio de Islamabad, Pakistán, tomando la muestra de 436 en total. Al emplear el muestreo de área, los datos se dividieron por igual en dos mitades iguales de 218 muestras respectivamente. La primera mitad de los encuestados eran usuarios de la marca local de té, mientras que la segunda mitad de los encuestados eran usuarios de la marca global de té. Se utilizó la escala Aaker de la personalidad de la marca para medir la personalidad de las marcas de té. Se utilizó una prueba t de muestra independiente para verificar la diferenciación de los clientes. Se observó que los clientes percibían las dos marcas como más resistentes y sinceras. Estas características son importantes y relevantes para que cualquier marca de té tenga éxito en el mercado. Por eso, ambas marcas comparten una participación casi igual en el mercado. Sin embargo, la marca global de té se percibe más sofisticada, competente y llena de emoción en comparación con la marca local. Por el momento, la disparidad de estas características de personalidad no está afectando la cuota de mercado de la marca local, pero se recomienda que para una competencia duradera y sostenible, la marca local también debe centrarse en las dimensiones de la personalidad de la marca de sofisticación, competencia y entusiasmo.Personalidade da marca é o simulacro das características humanas usadas para descrever a personalidade das marcas. Na arena do marketing, as empresas estão se esforçando bastante para impingir sua imagem de marca como uma pessoa nas mentes de seus clientes. A idéia por trás disso é que, quando um cliente percebe sua marca favorita como uma personalidade, ele desenvolve certas associações e pertencimento a essa marca. Os clientes, mais afinidade com a personalidade da marca, levam a mais lealdade e, finalmente, frutíferos para a empresa genérica que introduziu a marca e a personalidade da marca em seu produto. O estudo avalia empiricamente o impacto da personalidade da marca na mente dos clientes para duas famosas marcas de chá do Paquistão. Ambas as marcas têm participação quase igual no mercado, mas uma é local e a outra é global. Os dados foram coletados no território de Islamabad, Paquistão, levando a amostra de 436 no total. Empregando a amostragem de área, os dados foram igualmente divididos em duas metades iguais de 218 amostras, respectivamente. A primeira metade dos entrevistados era usuário da marca local de chá, enquanto a segunda metade dos respondentes era usuário da marca global de chá. Uma escala de personalidade da marca Aaker foi empregada para medir a personalidade das marcas de chá. Um teste t de amostra independente foi utilizado para verificar a diferenciação dos clientes. Observou-se que os clientes percebiam as duas marcas como mais robustas e sinceras. Essas características são importantes e relevantes para que qualquer marca de chá seja bem-sucedida no mercado. Por isso, ambas as marcas estão compartilhando uma participação quase igual no mercado. No entanto, a marca global de chá é percebida como mais sofisticada, competente e cheia de emoção em comparação com a marca local. No momento, a disparidade dessas características de personalidade não afeta a participação de mercado da marca local, mas é recomendável que, para uma competição duradoura e de sustentabilidade, a marca local também se concentre nas dimensões da personalidade da marca, como sofisticação, competência e entusiasmo

Chikungunya virus associated Guillain-Barre Syndrome with variable presentation: A case series.

Chikungunya Virus Is A Mosquito-borne Alpha Virus Which Occasionally Causes Neurologic Complications Including Guillain-barre Syndrome, Myelitis, Myopathies And Encephalitis. Pakistan Experienced Its First Chikungunya Outbreak In The Metropolis Of Karachi Officially Confirmed By World Health Organization In December 2016. During This Outbreak, Over 30,000 People Have Been Reported To Be Infected In Different Parts Of Karachi. We Report Four Cases Of Chikungunya Virus Infection Associated Guillain-barre Syndrome Having An Atypical Clinical Presentation And Variable Outcome. Each Case Presented As A Different Variant Of Gbs Including Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, Acute Motor And Sensory Axonal Neuropathy And Pharyngeal-cervical-brachial

Um ensaio sobre o tamanho ideal do governo: um estudo de caso do Paquistão

Pakistan is a developing country and faces the problem of the fiscal deficit since government expenditures are higher than revenues. In this situation the government has to raise loans to cover this deficit and the burden of loans and debt service is increasing significantly. Additionally, most of the budget has gone to service the debt. Under these circumstances, this study is an attempt to find the optimal size of the government and compare it with the actual size of the government. To calculate the optimal threshold level of government spending, the methodology used by Heerden (2008) for Pakistan is adopted. Finally, this study provides a guide for policymakers, either to reduce or increase the size of governme.Pakistán es un país en desarrollo y enfrenta el problema del déficit fiscal dado que los gastos del gobierno son más altos que los ingresos. Ante dicha situacion el gobierno tiene que levantar préstamos para cubrir este déficit y la carga de los préstamos y el servicio de la deuda está aumentando significativamente. Adicionalmente la mayor parte del presupuesto se ha ido para el servicio de la deuda. Bajo estas circunstancias, este estudio es un intento de encontrar el tamaño óptimo del gobierno y compararlo con el tamaño real del gobierno. Para calcular el nivel umbral óptimo de gasto gubernamental, se adopta la metodología utilizada por Heerden (2008) para Pakistán. Por último, este estudio proporciona una guía para los responsables de la formulación de políticas, ya sea para reducir o aumentar el tamaño del gobierno.O Paquistão é um país em desenvolvimento e enfrenta o problema do déficit fiscal, já que os gastos do governo são mais altos do que as receitas. Nesta situação, o governo tem de contrair empréstimos para cobrir esse déficit, e o ônus dos empréstimos e do serviço da dívida está aumentando significativamente. Além disso, a maior parte do orçamento foi para o serviço da dívida. Sob essas circunstâncias, este estudo é uma tentativa de encontrar o tamanho ideal do governo e compará-lo com o tamanho real do governo. Para calcular o nível ideal de limiar de gastos do governo, a metodologia usada por Heerden (2008) para o Paquistão é adotada. Finalmente, este estudo fornece um guia para os formuladores de políticas, seja para reduzir ou aumentar o tamanho do governo

Value of routine preoperative tests for coagulation before elective cranial surgery. Results of an institutional audit and a nationwide survey of neurosurgical centers in Pakistan

Background: Routine preoperative blood testing has become a dogma. The general practice is to order preoperative workup as a knee-jerk response rather than individualize it for each patient. The fact that the bleeding brain tends to swell, which coupled with limited options for proximal control, packing, and overall hemostasis, leads to an overemphasis on the preoperative coagulation profile.Material and methods: This is a retrospective review of the medical records of patients admitted at Aga Khan University Hospital from January 2010 to December 2015 for an elective craniotomy. The hospital registry was used to identify files for review. Data were collected on a predefined proforma. A nationwide survey was performed, and 30 neurosurgery centers were contacted across Pakistan to confirm the practice of preoperative workup.Results: The survey revealed that all centers had a similar practice of preoperative workup. This included complete blood count, serum electrolytes, and coagulation profile, including prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and international normalized ratio (INR). A total of 1800 files were reviewed. Nine (0.5%) patients were found to have deranged clotting profile without any predictive history of clotting derangement; 56% were male and 44% were female. Median age was 32 years with an interquartile range of 27 years. Median aPTT was (40.8 with 20.8 IQR). Median INR was (1.59 with 0.48 IQR). Median blood loss was (400 with 50 IQR). No significant association between coagulation profile (aPTT, INR) and blood loss was found (P = 0.85, r = -0.07).Conclusions: We conclude that patients without a history of coagulopathy and normal physical examination do not require routine coagulation screening before elective craniotomy