Modernism in the eyes of T.S Eliot: break from traditional writings with literary forms and movements

This paper owes to uncover the modern aspects in the writings of T. S. Eliot. Modernism, a movement which erupts from philosophy and has a “self-conscious” break from traditional writings and worked with literary forms and movements. As a modernist he portrays about the standard of love, money minded people and self centered people. The research is entirely based on T. S. Eliot’s poetry and generalizing its work entirely which required depth study of his work and citation of the critic who entitled T. S. Eliot as a “modernist-poet”. This study is retro-spective which requires depth study in order to relate by the previous work done on generalizing T. S. Eliot as a modernist poet

Behavioral Biases in Investment Decision Making and Moderating Role of Investor’s Type

The conventional finance theories, including Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), assume rational agents at the core of all investment decisions and overlook how real people make decisions. Practically, however, investment behavior differs and is dependent on the type of investor. This study aims to examine the behavioral biases in investment decision making by using the moderating role of investor’s type (IT). A survey-based questionnaire was designed and circulated to accumulate the feedback of small investors in the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). An investment decision making was modeled with disposition effect (DE), herding (HE) effect, and overconfidence (OC) bias, whereas an IT was taken as a moderating variable. Multiple regressions were employed to test the effect of different behavioral biases on investment decision making. Twostage least square (2SLS) regressions were used for the moderating effect of IT. The findings depicted that DE, HE bias, and OC biases have a significant and positive impact on investment decisions. However, the investor prevails that in DE, such a moderating role is not present, and the positive moderating role of OC bias in the investment decision portrayed. Additionally, IT has a negative moderating role in HE bias. The outcomes postulated that active investors show more OC bias, while inactive investors are more inclined toward HE bias. The findings of the study may have important policy implications for investment analysts and policymakers in terms of educating investors and ensuring better decision making

An annotated list of planthoppers with alternate hosts from Kallar tract of Punjab, Pakistan

Diversity of planthoppers and their host plants were studied in the "Kallar" tract of the Punjab, Pakistan (an important growing area of the world for producing Basmati rice). Planthoppers are considered the most important pests of rice. Delphacidae and Cixiidae are families of planthoppers with the most harmful species. Delphacids are primarily vector of the viruses, whereas Cixiids are vectors of phytoplasmas, mycoplasmas and prokaryotes-like associated to the class Mollicutes. Specimens of planthoppers were collected from the rice fields and surrounding weeds. A list of Fulgoromorpha is provided, with distributional and biological records as well. Records are extracted primarily from field data and specialized reference sources. Seven species from two different families of Fulgoromorpha were related to rice ecosystem (Cixiidae, one species and Delphacidae; six species). Three Delphacid species, whitebacked planthopper Sogatella furcifera, brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens and small brown planthopper (SBPH) Laodelphax striatellus are well-known vectors of severe rice pathogenic diseases in the Oriental and Paleartic regions. Laodelphax striatellus was recorded on rice for the first time in Pakistan. Among alternate hosts, Trifolium alexandrium, Leptochloa chinensis, Helianrhus allus, Medicago polymorpha and Sorghum bicolor were recorded for L. striatellus, while Leptochloa chinensis, Helianrhus allus, Medicago polymorpha, Sorghum bicolor, Zea mays and Cynodon dactylon were recorded for S. furcifera for the first time. N. lugens was recorded on weeds Leptochloa chinensis and Medicago polymorpha.Fil: Rizwan, Muhammad. Rice Research Institute; PakistánFil: Atta, Bilal. Rice Research Institute; PakistánFil: Marino, Ana Maria. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Mariani, Roxana. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Sabir, Arshed Makhdoom. Rice Research Institute; PakistánFil: Tahir, Muhammad. The Islamia University of Bahawalpur; PakistánFil: Rizwan, Misbah. Government College for Women; PakistánFil: Sabar, Muhammad. Rice Research Institute; PakistánFil: Rafique, Ch. Muhammad. Rice Research Institute; PakistánFil: Afzal, Muhammad. Hill Fruit Research Station; Pakistá

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

THE HOLY PROPHET (PBUH) AS AMBASSADOR OF PEACE

“The Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH) is the perfect exemplar, the prince of peace, the pride of the universe, whose life is immaculate and whose character is unimpeachable, came into the world as a mercy for all mankind. Yet, for centuries, the opponents of Islam have consistently ignored all that was patently good, noble and beneficent in his life, example and teachings. In Makkan life the Holy Prophet PBUH and his companions faced the opposition and persecution of Quraysh and in Madinan life He (PBUH) laid down the basic principles of an Islamic state. He (PBUH) established an Islamic society based on peace, brother-hood and interfaith harmony. &nbsp; In this discussion, it is focused to give an objective analysis of the fact that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was indeed a Messenger of Peace and Reconciliation. There is also an other misconception being observed in different areas of objective analyses that Islam was based on sword; in this discussion an analogy has been made on the basis of arguments to clarify this misconception.

Evaluation of the entomopathogenic fungi as a non-traditional control of the rice leaf roller, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) under controlled conditions

Abstract The rice leaf roller or leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a serious pest of rice crop in Pakistan. The present study was carried out to evaluate the virulence of the entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) Beauveria bassiana, Verticillium lecanii, and Metarhizium anisopliae against the third instar of C. medinalis larvae. Larvae were exposed to fungi under controlled conditions at the available commercial concentration (1 × 108 conidia ml−1). The results showed 73.33, 57.78, and 74.44% mortality rates in the in vitro assay and 56.67, 41.11 and 52.78% in the greenhouse assay of B. bassiana, V. lecanii, and M. anisopliae, respectively. The maximum mycosis from cadavers of C. medinalis was observed at B. bassiana treatment in the in vitro assay (70%) and in the greenhouse assay (53.78%). The maximum sporulation from C. medinalis cadavers was observed at B. bassiana treatment in the in vitro assay (144.67 conidia ml−1) and in greenhouse assay (96.67 conidia ml−1). These results favor the alternative use of EPF in organic rice production for management of C. medinalis

RECYCLING OF USED ENGINE OIL USING SOLVENT EXTRACTION AND DISTILLATION

&nbsp; A solvent extraction process has been used to recycle the used engine oil. The solvent used for the treatment of used engine oil is a mixture of ethanol, 1- butanol and toluene. The effect of operating parameters on the recycling process has been investigated for optimal conditions. The process parameters considered were agitator speed for blending, boiler temperature and solvent to used oil ratio. The maximum recovery for refined oil was 72% using solvent to used oil ratio of 9:1 at a boiler temperature 120° C and agitator speed of 600 rpm. The maximum solvent recovery of 98% was also obtained at the same process condition

Susceptibility of six insecticides in brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) in Kallar tract of Punjab, Pakistan; 2015-2019

Brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) is an economically important insect pest of rice crop worldwide including Pakistan. The use of chemicals insecticides to control the BPH population has been considered an effective strategy. However, long-term and intensive use of insecticides has resulted in resistance against this pest. In this study, six recommended insecticides were tested against BPH over the period of 2015-2019 to determine the susceptibility level. From 2015-19, susceptibility of BPH was reduced to all tested insecticides. Increasing trend of LC50 values was recorded in fipronil (18.23-35.11 mg/L), imidacloprid (64.22-128.8 mg/L), buprofezin (185.01-315.0 mg/L), chlorantranilipyrole (199.2-263.3 mg/L), pymetrozine (248.2-315.5 mg/L), and nitenpyram (21.07-34.3 mg/L) respectively from 2015 to 2019. Correlation coefficient values indicated a significant relation (P < 0.05) between fipronil, imidacloprid, and buprofezin. The study will be helpful for resistance management strategies to prevent the resistance development in BPH against insecticides

Innovative Strategies to Overcome Antimicrobial Resistance and Tolerance

Antimicrobial resistance and tolerance are natural phenomena that arose due to evolutionary adaptation of microorganisms against various xenobiotic agents. These adaptation mechanisms make the current treatment options challenging as it is increasingly difficult to treat a broad range of infections, associated biofilm formation, intracellular and host adapted microbes, as well as persister cells and microbes in protected niches. Therefore, novel strategies are needed to identify the most promising drug targets to overcome the existing hurdles in the treatment of infectious diseases. Furthermore, discovery of novel drug candidates is also much needed, as few novel antimicrobial drugs have been introduced in the last two decades. In this review, we focus on the strategies that may help in the development of innovative small molecules which can interfere with microbial resistance mechanisms. We also highlight the recent advances in optimization of growth media which mimic host conditions and genome scale molecular analyses of microbial response against antimicrobial agents. Furthermore, we discuss the identification of antibiofilm molecules and their mechanisms of action in the light of the distinct physiology and metabolism of biofilm cells. This review thus provides the most recent advances in host mimicking growth media for effective drug discovery and development of antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents