Biolistic Inoculation of Selected Host Plants with different Begomoviruses and their associated Betasatellites: using partially digested rolling circle amplified Viral/Satellite DNA

Background: The foundation of modern diagnostics of plant pathogens are based on the confirmation of Koch's postulates. However, following the rules of Koch's postulates is not always straightforward for the viruses because of their non-culturability and difficulties associated with the inoculation approaches.Methods: Biolistic inoculation of plants with partially digested rolling circle amplified (RCA) viral components was demonstrated in this study. The verified DNA bands were excised from the gel and self-circularized using the rapid DNA ligation kit. The self-ligated viral DNA components were enriched by RCA and partially digested with the respective fast digest restriction enzymes. The RCA prep (partially digested 3 µg of virus and 3 µg of beta-satellite) was biolistically inoculated into healthy plants of Solanum lycopersicum, Nicotiana tabacum and Capsicum annum at the two-true leaf stage.Results: By using this method, extracted begomoviruses from cotton [ (Cotton leaf curl Kokhran virus-Burewala strain (CLCuKοV-Bu), Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) and Chili leaf curl virus (ChiLCV) and their associated Cotton leaf curl Multan betasatellite (CLCuMB)] were successfully inoculated and propagated from the inoculation site. Furthermore, it has been noted that these viruses exhibit diverse behaviors in various host plants. The capacity of these viruses to infect systemically in C. annum without causing the typical disease symptoms is of interest.Conclusion: Biolistic inoculation using partially digested RCA of viral or satellite DNA enables viruses to infect plants with either monopartite or bipartite genomes. This method is easy and quick, and allows begomovirus cultures to be created without the use of Agrobacterium tumefaciens or whiteflies

Assessing the Determinants of Savings in Pakistan: An Evidence from PSLM 2010-11

The present study aims at investigating the determinants of the savings in Pakistan by using Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement (PSLM) survey data collected by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) for the year 2010-11. The Multiple Regression Model is estimated for finding out the household saving determinants. The results reveal that savings have positive relationship with income, livestock, number of earner, while these are negatively related with education, gender of the household head and poverty in Pakistan. The regional level analysis reveals that marginal propensity to save is higher in rural areas as compared to urban counterpart. Among the provinces it is the highest in Punjab and lowest in Sindh. To promote savings among households in Pakistan, policies aiming at increasing income of the people should be formulated and implemented. Other policies include creation of job opportunities and provision of loan for livestock especially for the poor and females

Twin load of hypertension and diabetes amongst adults: community based study from Jammu and Kashmir, India

Background: Data regarding the occurrence of hypertension and diabetes in the community are crucial for optimum allocation and utilization of health resources. Objective was to assess the efficacy of such field based exercise in detection of new undiagnosed cases and calculation of the consequent prevalence.Methods: A cross sectional community based study was carried out to find out prevalence of hypertension and diabetes amongst adults (35-64 years) in Chatergam, Budgam (Jammu and Kashmir) during Oct 2011 to Feb 2012 on a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Blood pressure was measured in 2077 adults and random blood sugar (RBS) was measured in 1732 subjects to detect diabetes. Data was analyzed to find out the distribution of systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) and the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes along with 95 percent confidence intervals.Results: Mean SBP and DBP of 2077 subjects were 130.7 ± 40.3 and 83.1 ± 11.4 mm of mercury respectively. Values were the highest for both SBP and DBP amongst women of urban areas and in the 55 – 64 years of age. Quarter of studied persons (24.4%) had the family history of hypertension or diabetes or both. Based on the criteria of JNC 7, 41.1% subjects (95 % CI 38.9 – 43.2) were found hypertensive including 593 known cases (496 alone & 97 in combinations with diabetes). Prevalence of new cases of hypertension was 17.5 percent; it significantly increased with increasing age and was high amongst males and those residing in urban areas. 4.6% subjects (95% CI 3.6-5.7) were positive for diabetes based on RBS. Conclusions: Considering high load of twin diseases and their impact on coronary vascular diseases (CVD), study emphasizes the need to implement an integrated population-based cost-effective control program with a focus on primordial and primary prevention.

Assessing the Determinants of Savings in Pakistan: An Evidence from PSLM 2010-11

The present study aims at investigating the determinants of the savings in Pakistan by using Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement (PSLM) survey data collected by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) for the year 2010-11. The Multiple Regression Model is estimated for finding out the household saving determinants. The results reveal that savings have positive relationship with income, livestock, number of earner, while these are negatively related with education, gender of the household head and poverty in Pakistan. The regional level analysis reveals that marginal propensity to save is higher in rural areas as compared to urban counterpart. Among the provinces it is the highest in Punjab and lowest in Sindh. To promote savings among households in Pakistan, policies aiming at increasing income of the people should be formulated and implemented. Other policies include creation of job opportunities and provision of loan for livestock especially for the poor and females

Surgical Outcome of Anterior Skull Base Approach for Combined ENT and Neurosurgical Lesions

Objective:  To determine surgical outcome of Anterior Skull Base approach for combined ENT   and Neurosurgical Lesions. Material and Methods:  This descriptive study was conducted at the departments of ENT, Head, Neck Surgery and Neurosurgery Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI) Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from March 2003 to Feb. 2008, with a total duration of five years. All these patients were admitted in ENT department. These patients were evaluated in terms of detailed history, thorough examination and radiological investigations. Incisional biopsy of the nasal mass was taken in cases where angiofibroma was excluded clinically, and then proper approach for excision of the lesion was planned. A well informed consent was taken from patient explaining the procedure, its risks, benefits and associated complications. The intracranial lesion was completely excised by neurosurgeons with help of microscope while the extracranial portion of the lesion was excised by ENT surgeon .The specimen of the lesions was examined by Histopathologist. Results:  This study included 23 patients in the age range of 12-51 years, mean age 25 years. Eighteen patients were male and five were female with female to male ratio of 1:3.6. These patients presented mainly with complaints of nasal obstruction, epistaxis and headache. CT scans were performed in all 23 cases (100%) while MRI in 5 cases (21.73%). These patients presented with advanced disease on radiological findings and they were treated by combined approach by Neurosurgeons and Otorhinolaryngologists. On histopathology of the specimen angiofibroma was on top. Two patients were subjected to radiotherapy postoperatively. There was no mortality and no recurrence of the disease. Conclusion:  The anterior skull base approach has good surgical outcome in terms of complete clearance of the disease and minimum morbidity for combined neurosurgical and ENT lesions irrespective of the nature of the lesion

Radiological and Clinical Outcome of Volar Barton Distal Radius Fractures Treated by Variable Angle Volar Locking- Plates (Chinese Version)

Background: To evaluate the functional and radiological results of treating volar Barton fractures of the distal radius with the variable Angle Volar Locking Plates (Chinese version). Methods: In this prospective study patients(n=50), of volar Barton fractures, which were fixed with Variable Angle Volar Locking Plates (Chinese version) were evaluated. Short arm back splint was applied . Volar approach was used for distal radius. After sweeping away the FPL muscle belly and retracting it ulnarly, pronator quadratus was exposed and released from its radial attachment in L shaped fashion using scalpel. Under direct visualization and with the aid of fluoroscopy, the fracture was then reduced. Plate was initially secured proximally with a 3.5-mm cortical screw in the oval hole of plate. Distal fixation with locking screws was then performed while maintaining the reduction. Radiological outcome (residual dorsal angulation, radial shortening and loss of radial inclination) was assessed according to Lidstorm criteria and clinical outcome was done using Mayo score . Results: Forty five cases were caused by road traffic accident and five cases were of domestic fall. Majority (n=28) sustained B3.1. Majority of the patients were operated within the first week of injury (60%). Mean time for radiological union was 08 weeks (6-12 weeks).Duration of hospital stay ranged from 2 to 3 days. Forty-six patients had excellent functional score at the end of six months. Forty-three patients (86%)had volar tilt in the range of 6-11 degrees and 2 patients (4%) had volar tilt in the range of 11-15 degree.Radiologically 96% patients had excellent to good results. Conclusion: Volar Barton fracture are best treated with osteosynthesis using variable angle volar locking plate

Management of Post Traumatic Epilepsy in Pediatric Population in Pakistan

Objective:  To investigate the efficacy of seizure prophylaxis in the prevention of early and late-onset seizures after the traumatic brain injury known as post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE). Material and Methods:  A retrospective study was performed on children aged 0 to < 12 years who were presented to a level 1 trauma center during the six months with the diagnosis of mild to severe TBI. Data included is of 66 patients from Children’s Hospital, Lahore. It was analyzed according to a patient’s demographic data, mechanism of injury, clinical and radiological presentation, management, and follow-up. History of seizures was tracked through guardian referral or staff witnesses. Results:  Among 66 pediatric cases of acute brain injury from June 2019 to December 2019, 45 were males (68%) and 21 were females (32%) with a male to female ratio of 2:1. The mean age in our study was 3.8 years. 60% of children were managed under observation, 30% of children required medical pharmacological treatment, 9% of children needed surgical intervention, and 13% of children required artificial ventilation. Overall mortality is 4.5%. In our study, we found a considerable relationship between residual neurological deficits and severity of injury (p = 0.3), there is no noteworthy relationship between mechanism of injury and outcome (p = 0.5). The mean length of stay was 3.9 days but 60% of patients had stayed less than 3 days. Conclusion:  Analyzing the underlying mechanisms of post-traumatic epilepsy can lead us to propose effective treatments to prevent seizures following traumatic brain injury

A Brief Survey of Memory Analysis Tools

This paper covers five major tools used for memory forensics that would be helpful to the scientific community and forensics researchers in determining which tools are best according to their requirement. From memory forensic analysis, it is very easy to judge about malware presence and behavior. This paper shows a brief survey of the tool’s attributes and their supported platforms. We have mainly focused to mention results on the basis of running process, DLL's, drivers, registry data, event logs, web activity, services, Malware IOC(Indicators of compromise) analysis, network information, size of the tool, address translation etc. Investigators may choose one of the tools according to their requirements

Exploring the Nexus; Stock Market, T. Bills, Inflation, Interest Rate and Exchange Rate

The main objective of this study is to examine the relationship between Karachi stock exchange and macroeconomic variables i.e. inflation rate, exchange rate, treasury bills and interest rate. Monthly time series data from January 2005 to December 2010 have been used to investigate the causal association among macroeconomic indicators and Karachi stock market. The co-integration test and Granger Casualty have been applied to drive the short and long-term investigation. The results found bi directional Granger causality among KSE and exchange rate and One way Granger causality exists among KSE and interest rate, no Granger causality found among KSE and inflation rate and KSE and treasury bills. Which means performance of macro-economic variable somehow affects the stock index; moreover, stock prices in Pakistan do not reflect the macro-economic condition of the country. This study emphasizes on the crash of macro-economic indicators on the capital market performance of developing countries. The performance of capital markets of developing countries calculated by these macro-economic indicators