Physicochemical Analysis and Fatty Acid Composition of Oil Extracted from Olive Fruit

Research work was carried out to investigate the physicochemical analysis of olive oil extracted from olives grown in Khyber pakhtunkhwa. The samples were studied for physicochemical characteristics (Specific gravity, refractive index, Acid value, Saponification value and Peroxide value). The free fatty acidity is thus a direct measure of the quality of the oil. Olive oils contain fatty acids commonly present in olive oils which were analysed which are Palmitic, Palmitoleic, Stearic, Oleic, Linoleic, Linolenic, Arachidic and Gadoleic which have specific carbon number and their values in percentage are C16:0 (15.4), C16:1(1.5), C18:0 (3.5), C18:1 (65.2), C18:2 (16.3), C18:3 (0.7), C20:0 (0.3) and C20:1(0.2) respectively. The major fatty acid found in kalamata variety of olive oil contain oleic acid. Oleic acid percentage is high in olive oil which contained considerable amount of 65.2 %. The oil was compared with two olive oil samples S2 and S3 collected from local market. Keywords: Olive oil, Fatty acids, Sensory evaluatio

Gender Wise Distribution of Income Using L-Moments Method

The main purpose of this work is to explore the income distribution of both male and female in Pakistan over the period of 2010-2011. For this purpose, the lognormal distribution with known parameters is used as a model and its unknown parameters are estimated by three methods that are likelihood, moments and L-moments. The results show that citizens of Pakistan are not equal in income and the probability plot suggested that the income of the male is greater than that of a female in Pakistan. Moreover, for small sample size, the best method of parameters estimation is the L-moments, while, for large sample size the best method is a maximum likelihood. Findings of the study suggest that suitable policy is required to maintain equality in income distribution in the country. It will consequently reduce the gap among rich and poor and will certainly improve social welfare

Effect of non-nutritive sweeteners, chemical preservatives and antioxidants on microbial and sensory characteristics of dehydrated guava

A study was carried out to evaluate the effect of various concentrations of non nutritive sweeteners individually and in combination along with chemical preservatives i.e. potassium metabisulphite (PMS) and potassium sorbate (PS) and anti-oxidants including citric acid (CA) and ascorbic acid (AA) on microbial and sensory characteristics of dehydrated guava slices during 90 days storage. The solutions of saccharine, cyclamate, aspartame and their mixture were prepared in different concentrations. Guava slices were submerged in these sweeteners for a 24 hour and subsequently cabinet dehydrated to a final moisture content of 25%. Total microbial count (TMC) were recorded in all samples however, samples treated with AA, CA and PMS showed negligible microbial population than PS during storage. Guava slices treated with non-nutritive sweeteners were leathery in appearance due to severe loss of moisture. Comparatively the slices treated with PMS and AA showed highest overall acceptability. The statistical analysis showed that storage intervals and sweeteners had a significant effect (p<0.05) on TMC and organoleptic quality of dehydrated guava slices

The Impact of Leadership Styles on Employee Wellbeing and Resilience during COVID-19: A Partial Least Square Approach

Purpose:The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of leadership styles on employee well-being and resilience in private universities in Peshawar during COVID-19. The role of leadership in reducing stress and improving mental and physical health was not investigated in COVID-19, and this area is particularly understudied in the Pakistani context.Methodology:Data has been collected from 203 faculty members of 10 private-sector universities in Peshawar using an adapted questionnaire. The respondents include lecturers, assistant professors, and full professors working in private-sector universities.Findings:Using the partial least square regression, it is found that charismatic leadership, intellectual stimulation, personal recognition, contingent reward, and management by exception have positive and significant relationships with employee well-being and resilience in private sector universities in Peshawar.Conclusion:The conclusion is that leaders should use both transformational and transactional leadership styles in their organizations. They should also pay attention to the well-being and resilience of their employees in the workplace

Health risks assessment diagnosis of toxic chemicals (heavy metals) via food crops consumption irrigated with wastewater

The present study investigated the concentration of metals in commonly grown vegetables (Luffa acutangula L., Zea mays L., Solanum melongena L.) irrigated with waste water in District Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The pH (5.80) and electrical conductivity (13 dS/m) of waste water indicated the acidic nature that is not suitable for irrigation purposes. Soil and vegetables samples were analyzed for metals concentration through flame atomic absorption spectrometry (Varian FAAS-240). The findings showed that waste water irrigated soil was highly contaminated with Cd (4.62 mg/kg) which was above permissible limits set by European Union Standard (EU 2006, 2002). The concentrations of heavy metals such as Cr and Cd in vegetables were higher than the permissible limits set by World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization U.S.A guidelines 2001. The health hazard quotient (HQ) of waste water irrigated vegetables was observed higher for Ni (0.699-0.1029 mg/kg), (0.0456-0.1040 mg/kg), (0.731-0.0994 mg/kg) in Luffa acutangula, Solanum melongena and Zea mays, respectively. The study concluded that the consumption of commonly grown vegetables in waste water zone of the study area may pose potential health threats in local population

Isolation, characterization, pharmacological evaluation and in silico modeling of bioactive secondary metabolites from Ziziphus oxyphylla a member of Rhamnaceae family

Purpose: To investigate the pharmacological properties of the medicinally active metabolites of Ziziphus oxyphylla. Methods: Compound I-IV were isolated form the root of Ziziphus oxyphylla (compound I = Stigmasterol, II = Betulinic acid, III = 1,2,3 benzene triol and IV = 5-Pentadecanoic acid). Various spectroscopic techniques were used to identify and characterize the isolated compounds. DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays were employed to determine the antioxidant potentials of these compounds. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibition potential of the isolated compounds were also evaluated. Results: Amongst the isolated compounds, compound IV was the most potent antioxidant against DPPH and ABTS free radicals, exhibiting half-maximal concentration (IC50) values of 64 and 65 μg/mL, respectively. All the compounds exhibited good inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. However, stigmasterol was more potent than the other isolated compounds, showing IC50 of 85.10 ± 1.45 and 84.81 ± 1.17, respectively, against AChE and BChE. Conclusion: Although, all isolated compounds inhibited the selected free radicals (DPPH and ABTS) and cholinesterases, stigmasterol and 5-penatadecanoic acid were more potent than other two compounds. Thus the former can potentially be used to treat oxidative stress and neurodegenerative diseases. Keywords: Ziziphus oxyphylla, Stigmasterol, 5-Pentadecanoic acid, Antioxidant, Acetyl Cholinesterase, Butyryl cholinesteras

Sedentary behaviour and physical activity levels in employees of Khyber Medical University Peshawar

Introduction: The increase in sedentary behaviour and decrease in physical activity levels are some of the contributing factors to many of the non-communicable diseases. These non-communicable diseases included obesity, type-II diabetes and cardiovascular problems. Apart from causing financial burden on health care system, these diseases have been reported to cause nearly 1.9 million premature deaths per year. The aim of the study was to measure sedentary behaviour and physical activity levels among employees of Khyber Medical University, Peshawar. Material & Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on employees of Khyber Medical University, Peshawar. The total sample size was 172 and the data was collected through convenience sampling by using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) long form. This questionnaire measures physical activity levels and sedentary behaviour at work. Results: Out of 172 participants, 154 (89.5%) were male and 18 (10.4%) were female with a mean age of 34.4 ± 2 years. According to the levels of physical activity, 49 (28.5%) were less active, 63 (36.6%) were moderately active and 60 (34.9%) were highly active. The average time spent by the participants for sitting was (8.93 ± 2.35) hours per day. A total of 73.8%, 23.3 % and 2.9% participants could be categorised as having high, moderate and low sedentary behaviour, respectively. Conclusion: Majority of the participants (two-thirds of the participants) demonstrated a high sedentary behaviour and therefore, needed modification in their daily routine

A qualitative assessment of tourism research amidst COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan

The COVID-19 pandemic presents a substantial threat to Pakistan's tourism industry, precipitated by diverse factors. Scholars have shown considerable interest in researching the developments within this industry. This study presents the findings of a qualitative thematic analysis conducted on the literature pertaining to the impact of COVID-19 on Pakistan's tourism industry. Employing ATLAS.ti 9 software, a comprehensive analysis was undertaken on 22 research publications spanning the years 2020 to 2023. The results of the study reveal the emergence of six recurring themes across the literature during this period, including the need for the development of a policy framework, provision of a favorable tourism environment considering the pandemic, building consumer and employee confidence, technological innovation, stakeholder cohesion, and domestic tourism and community belongingness. Additionally, the research offers recommendations for future investigations in this domain, shedding light on the limited scholarly efforts focused on conceptualizing the growth of the tourism industry in Pakistan amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also elucidates the key themes that surfaced during the analytical process

Learning from crises : Building a resilient future for Pakistan's Tourism

Crippled by natural and man-made crises, the tourism industry stands at a crossroads, grappling with the unprecedented challenges of the global pandemic. This qualitative study, based on in-depth interviews with 10 individuals, delves into the resilience factors within Pakistan’s tourism landscape. Our analysis unearths eight core themes – government support, focusing on foreign tourists, proactive planning, technology innovation, domestic tourism, limited-scale opening of tourism, tourism education, and consumer and employee confidence – that form the foundation of a comprehensive resilience framework. This framework functions as a prescriptive roadmap, guiding the tourism industry’s proactive revival in the face of future pandemics and fostering its long-term sustainability in the post-pandemic era. Beyond Pakistan, our study’s inclusive resilience approach offers a transformative model for developing countries, potentially triggering a paradigm shift towards a novel economic framework. This research not only paves the way for the revitalization of tourism in Pakistan but also opens doors for futher exploration of tourism resilience during future crises

ASSESSMENT OF PATIENT’S SATISFACTION RECEIVING TREATMENT AT PHYSICAL THERAPY OUT-PATIENT DEPARTMENT OF HAYATABAD MEDICAL COMPLEX PESHAWAR

Introduction: Patient satisfaction is an important indicator of the quality of care given to patients in the health care system. It helps the clinician to know about the exact and objective feedback of the services they provide and to improve the quality and outcome of patient care. Patient satisfaction in physical therapy has not been closely monitored, and limited research exists in the field of health services in this area. The purpose of this study was to measure the patient's satisfaction at the physiotherapy OPD of Hayatabad medical complex Peshawar. Material & Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from October 2018 to January 2019 to measure patient satisfaction. MedRisk patient satisfaction questionnaire by Beattie et al (2005) was used for data collection. The questionnaire was distributed among 125 participants at the physiotherapy OPD of Hayatabad medical complex Peshawar by non-probability convenient sampling. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 125 participants were recruited of which more than half were female (n=70, 56%) and male (n=55,44%) with a mean age of 41.88±12.23. The chief complaint participants presented with was shoulder pain (n=29, 23.2%) followed by low back pain (n=24,19.2%). Patients were satisfied and responded positively to all the MedRisk patient satisfaction questionnaire statements. When asked the participants “My therapist treats me respectfully” (n=4,3.2%) disagree, (n=4,3.2%) neutral responses, and (n=117,93.6%) agree. When inquired about the time therapist spend with participants (n=111, 88.8%) disagree, (n=14, 11.2%) agree. “My therapist thoroughly explains the treatment(s) I receive” (n=3,2.4%) disagree, (n=3,2.4%) neutral response and (n=119,95.2%) agree. “Overall, I am completely satisfied with the services I received from my therapist” (n=1,0.8%) disagree, (n=7,5.6%) neutral response, (n=117,93.6%) agree. No significant correlation was found between gender and patient satisfaction as the p-value was greater than 0.05. Conclusion: This cross-sectional survey showed a high level of patient satisfaction with physiotherapy and good quality care to the patient by a professional therapist in physiotherapy OPD of Hayatabad medical complex Peshawar