Heavy metals pollution in the coastal environment of Karachi

The marine environment near Karachi, particularly the Baba channel, Chari Kundi channel and Manora channel have been found contaminated with industrial effluents discharged by Malir and Lyari rivers, since they carry a high concentration of toxic heavy metals viz. Pb, Zn, Cu and Mn emanating from the industrial area and are received and discharged by the Lyari river. Out of 60 seawater samples collected from the above mentioned areas, Pb was present in 55 samples and Zn in 58 samples. The concentration of Pb was between 0.04 and 59.2ppm and the concentration of Zn was between 0.05 and 1.9ppm. Similarly all the 60 sludge samples collected from Lyari outfall and its adjoining area have been found to contain Pb and Zn in alarmingly high concentratios, which for Pb was between 15.4 and 3209.9ppm while for Zn was between 87 and 111.3ppm. Cu and Mn were also found in all the above samples

Digital transformation of value-based intermediation - a risk-based perspective

Islamic Finance has a strong base from Maqasid al Shariah perspective to really develop a system on social justice & environmental wellbeing to further establish a sustainable value based economic system. Islamic Banks on this very value based system can flourish and lead the banking industry.Financial stability is the goal of every organization but adding to it sustainable ecosystem, modern technological product & services and proper utilization of the resources broaden the horizon for Financial institutions. Luckily, Islamic Finance has these attributes inherited in their principles and legal classical fiqh maxims.We focused on the digital transformation and the risk arising from it while adopting those innovative technology products and services. We will come up with the mechanism to mitigate those risks and evaluate it from Maqasid al Sharia’h perspective in value based intermediation.Good attributes in the overall culture of the organization is important and it can be the core value. It must consist of integrity, maintaining high moral standards, fairness & justice and transparency. All these attributes are already existing in Islamic economics theory. The modern organization to adopt these attributes in digital transformation can lead them to a value based system which can be trustworthy and sustainable. The Maqasid’s guidance can further strengthen this system and make it more reliable and sustainable with the concept of realism which can better contribute to the people, profitability of the organization and our planet a healthy place to live

An Analytical Study of the Main Characters in the Fictions of Allama Rashid ul Khairi

Allama Rashid ul Khairi is considered to be a pioneer of Urdu short stories. His work is primarily centered on women's basic and social rights. He was a reformer who conveyed his thoughts and ideas in connection with Islamic teachings through his stories. Essentially, Rashid created various characters to challenge the behavior of a male-dominated society, including characters from feudal systems, the middle class, and the lower-middle class, all aimed at safeguarding women's rights in the early twentieth century in the Indian subcontinent. Main characters of the fictions of Rashid have been critically analyzed in this paper

Physical Activity and Sport Participation Among Adolescents from MENA

Physical activity is positively associated with short- and long-term mental and physical health effects. Adolescence represents a sensitive period of development and habit formation, during which the adoption of healthy behaviors such as physical activity is critical. A low level of physical activity is a key risk factor for the development of chronic diseases throughout the life course. Physical activity levels decline among adolescents with age, especially among girls. Encouraging physical activity early during childhood development and into adolescence may increase perceived self-efficacy and may enhance levels of physical activity later in life. Countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have experienced many changes over the past two decades, including significant economic, sociodemographic, industrial, and political transformations, such as high levels of urbanization, loss of green space, and heavy reliance on vehicles for transportation. These changes along with other country-specific factors may present distinct constraints to physical activity among adolescents. This chapter focuses on the prevalence of physical activity and sport participation and their related constraints that adolescents experience in the MENA region. It presents a literature review on physical activity among adolescents in the MENA, followed by results of a brief study on the prevalence of sport participation among adolescents from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Results suggest that culturally appropriate community- and school-based interventions are required to improve overall physical activity levels of adolescents in MENA countries. Regionally, examinations and assessments of specific constraints are key to identify patterns of physical activity and sport participation and to formulate interventions that have the capacity to increase these sport participation levels. General recommendations that have the potential to increase adolescent physical activity and sport participation include increasing awareness and knowledge on the related benefits, providing adequate support and encouragement for adolescents from MENA in relation to physical activity and sport participation, as well as ensuring related opportunities are available within school programs

Studies in pyrolysis

Part I. A study has been made of the vapour phase pyrolosis of vinyl benzoate. Vinyl benzoate is a model compound for the study of end-groups formed during the pyrolysis of Terylane, poly(ethylene terephthalate). Vinyl benzoate has been pyrolysed in a flow reactor over the temperature range 450-55

Highlighting Socio-Political Issues Through Theatre in Pakistan

The present study explores the role of theater in Pakistan in socio-political issues. The qualitative methodology has been adopted for the research. Focus group study and in-depth interviews have been conducted. Findings show that though theatre has been stigmatized it has reflected the socio-political life of Pakistan especially, Commercial Comedy Theater

Reducing the donor site morbidity in radial forearm free flaps by utilizing a narrow radial forearm free flap

Background: The radial forearm free flap (RFFF) has remained a leading choice of many plastic surgeons as a fasciocutaneous flap due to its versatility, pedicle length, and simple elevation technique. However, donor site morbidity has led many reconstructive surgeons to limit their use of the RFFF and to use other flaps instead. We propose that using a narrow RFFF (nRFFF) decreases the aesthetic and functional morbidity of the donor site.Methods: We report our experiences with the nRFFF from April 2012 through May 2015 at the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Hand Surgery at Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi. The donor defects were closed primarily. The Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Scale and comparison with the contralateral hand were used to assess aesthetic and functional outcomes, respectively.Results: A total of 24 patients underwent nRFFF procedures during the study period. The donor arm showed excellent motor function in 22 cases (91.7%), and very good function in the remaining two cases (8.3%). The aesthetic outcomes were excellent in four patients (16.6%), very good in eight patients (33.3%), good in 10 patients (41.6%), and fair in two patients (8.3%) who developed a hypertrophic scar. All flaps were successful and there were no cases of partial or complete loss.Conclusions: For small to medium-sized soft tissue defects, the nRFFF had acceptable outcomes due to its thinness, pliability, and major reduction in donor site aesthetic and functional morbidity

Dementia in pakistan: national guidelines for clinicians

Dementia refers to a range of disorders characterized by declining memory, multiple cognitive deficits and eventual mortality due to progressive and irreversible brain damage1. Disease entities comprising dementia characteristically affect mainly the geriatric population. Together, they constitute a major component of global disease burden in general and geriatric disease burden in particular2. In 2005, it was estimated that 24.3 million people in the world were living with dementia; 4.6 million cases have been added each year ever since3. Overall, dementia contributes 11.3% of years of life lived with disability, making it a major contributor to worldwide morbidity4. As the world’s sixth most populous country, Pakistan faces a stiff challenge of managing an aging population in the years ahead

Prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students of shifa college of medicine

To yield information regarding the prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students in Islamabad and to emphasize on the need of psychological and mental well being of medical students.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study done at Shifa College of Medicine. A questionnaire was administered to 361 students who were present at the time of distribution and were consented. The instrument used to assess anxiety and depression level was the Aga khan University Anxiety and Depression Scale (AKUADS). The data collected was tabulated and analyzed using SPS v. 16.Results: Out of a total of 500 students in a five year MBBS program at Shifa College of Medicine, 402 students were present at the time of the survey out of which, 361 students agreed to participate. The response rate was 89.8%. According to the AKUADS, 39.6% of students were found to have anxiety and depression. Among them, 28.1 % were males and 49.5% were females. Hence, anxiety and depression was more prevalent among females. First year medical students were found to have more anxiety and depression (52.6%) as compared to the rest.Conclusion: Anxiety and Depression is widely seen among medical students. This study highlights the graveness of the situation, and the need for trained psychiatrists to deal with this enormous disease burden. There is a further need to explore the factors that influence anxiety and depression among medical students and its impact on students’ academic performance

The Importance of Clinicians and Community Members Receiving Timely and Accurate Information about Waterborne Hazards

It is important for clinicians and community members to receive up-to-date information about the microbiological and elemental composition of local water supplies. Clinicians play an important role in helping their patients to interpret water quality data and understand the potential impact of water quality on their health. Expanding the medical school curriculum to include environmental health, public health, and health disparities—including disparities related to environmental quality and waterborne hazards—is key to clinicians’ fulfilling this role