Assessing the correlation between caffeine consumption and its effect on the academic performance of medical students of Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background:  To assess the correlation between caffeine consumption and its effect on the academic performance of medical students of Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad, Pakistan. Methods:  A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Shifa College of Medicine and its affiliated hospital for about three months from 10th June, 2019 till 15th August 2019. Second-year medical students actively took part in it. We used convenient sampling; a total of 101 students eagerly participated in it. We used a detailed self-administered questionnaire in which simplified questions with four to five options were given. Participants marked their responses to the provided options. A correlation was noticed between their Locomotive System and Gastrointestinal System modular exam scores with the questionnaire response. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 23.  Results:  Out of 101 participants, 51.5% were males, and 48.5% were females. About 77.2% of participants were consuming caffeine in any form, while 22.8% never consumed caffeine. Those who consumed moderate (200-400 mg) caffeine in any way performed better in the Locomotive System Module with a mean score of 71.88%. Simultaneously, those who consumed a lot more than 400 mg of caffeine scored better in the Gastrointestinal Tract Module with a mean score of 76.50%.  Conclusion:  By conducting this study, we identified that caffeine consumption is surprisingly high in medical students. The correlation between caffeine consumption and its effect on medical students’ performance is not significant.   Key Words: Academic performance, Caffeine consumption, Medical students. (Source: MeSH-NLM)

FEASIBILITY OF BAY SALAM FINANCE: A SURVEY OF THE OPINIONS OF STAKEHOLDERS

The present study aims to explore the potential application of Bai Salam (forward sale agreement) as substitute financial instrument in the agriculture sector of Pakistan. The conclusion is drawn through a survey questionnaire from 300 farmers and bankers in a district of Punjab. For analysis, we use SPSS software and presented the results by using descriptive methods. This study overall concludes the banker’s and farmer’s awareness, willingness, risks, hurdles and the role of institutions in the Salam promotion. The majority of the farmers are not aware of the Salam contract because the Islamic bank’s branch network is limited to urban areas and there is no proper promotion campaign launched by the Islamic banks for awareness about Salaam among the farmers. Bankers are reluctant to finance the tenants, orchards due to more operational risk for the bank. Bankers opinion that small farmers do not have personal securities which is not a solid reason because half of the sampled farmers take a loan from the formal system if they can provide securities to conventional interest-based institution why they can’t provide securities to Islamic financial institutions? There is a vast market for the Islamic Banks if they sincerely pay their attention towards forward sale contracts. The concept applies to all areas of agriculture and livestock farming to overcome financing problems and boost production.

Towards a method for the economic evaluation of environmental indicators in UK Integrated Arable Farming Systems

Integrated Arable Farming Systems (IAFS), which involve a reduction in the use of off-farm inputs, are attracting considerable research interest in the UK. The objectives of these systems experiments are to compare their financial performance with that from conventional or current farming practices. To date, this comparison has taken little account of any environmental benefits (or disbenefits) of the two systems. The objective of this paper is to review the assessment methodologies available for the analysis of environmental impacts. To illustrate the results of this exercise, the methodology and environmental indicators chosen are then applied to data from one of the LINK - Integrated Farming Systems experimental sites. Data from the Pathhead site in Southern Scotland are used to evaluate the use of invertebrates and nitrate loss as environmental indicators within IAFS. The results suggest that between 1992 and 1995 the biomass of earthworms fell by 28 kg per hectare on the integrated rotation and rose by 31 kg per hectare on the conventional system. This led to environmental costs ranging between £2.24 and £13.44 per hectare for the integrated system and gains of between £2.48 and £14.88 for the conventional system. In terms of nitrate, the integrated system had an estimated loss of £72.21 per hectare in comparison to £149.40 per hectare on the conventional system. Conclusions are drawn about the advantages and disadvantages of this type of analytical framework. Keywords: Farming systems; IAFS; Environmental valuation; Economics; Earthworms; Nitrates; Soil faun

Integrated Arable Farming Systems and their potential uptake in the UK

Integrated Arable Farming Systems are examined from the perspective of the farmer considering the use of such techniques, and data are presented which suggest that the uptake of the approach may expose the manager to a greater degree of risk. Observations are made about the possible uptake of such systems in the UK and the implications this may have for agricultural and environmental policy in general

Dengue: pathogenesis, prevention and treatment – A mini review

Dengue is a threatening tropical disease which has become the cause of significant mortality, morbidity and economic burden. Dengue is an epidemic in over 100 countries, and it causes up to 25000 deaths every year. There is no specific cure available for the disease, hence fluid resuscitation is the only ultimate treatment given to patients in severe conditions. Dengue is more threatening in Southeast Asia, where it is the leading cause of deaths in children, and where all four serotypes of the dengue virus and the vector, Aedes aegypti, are endemic. In last few decades, an overwhelming increase was seen in dengue infections around the world and it is estimated that two fifths of the world's population is now at risk from dengue with the mortality rate of about 5%. To control dengue infection, combination of care measures are utilized which depends on the symptoms and severity of the fever, including oral rehydration solution or isotonic intravenous fluids and/or blood transfusions. Currently, the only effective way of preventing the dengue epidemics is eliminating the vector. This review covers pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of dengue infection

Competitiveness, Diversification and Pakistan's Export Performance of Leather and Leather Products; A Constant Market Share Analysis

The present study focuses on measuring the competitiveness, diversifications and export performance of Pakistan`s selected leather and leather products in the global economy from 2003-2014. The study employs Constant Market Share Analysis to measure the competitiveness and suggests some policy measures that might be helpful to enhance the export volume which leads to a considerable increase in the foreign exchange that is indispensible for achieving desired economy. The findings of the study of the product group (4202) illustrate that average total effect, structural effect, specific competitive effect were positive, whereas average competitive effect, commodity effect, general competitive effect and market effect were negative from 2003-08. Furthermore, the results indicate that the average total effect, structural effect, commodity effect, competitive effect and specific competitive effect were positive, while market effect and general competitive effect were negative from 2009-14. Moreover, the analysis of the product group (4203) highlights that average total effect, structural effect, competitive effect, specific competitive effect, commodity effect were positive, whereas average general competitive effect and market effect were negative from 2003-08. In addition, the findings  indicate that the average total effect, structural effect, competitive effect and specific competitive effect were positive, while average commodity effect,  market effect,  general competitive effect were negative from 2009-14. The findings of the analysis illustrate that Pakistan has the potential to enhance its exports to the world, but some diversifications are required to be competitive in the world market

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) promoter-1082 A>G polymorphism and risk of cancer: Meta-analysis

Background: Interleukin-10-1082A>G variant is the most widely investigated polymorphism in the IL-10 gene in cancer susceptibility. A number of case control analysis showed the link between IL-10-1082A >G polymorphism and cancer risk in humans population.Methods: Twenty three case–control eligible studies, comprising 4753 cases and 6086 controls were selected for the meta-analysis of IL-10-1082 A/G SNP. The statistical analysis was conducted with comprehensive meta-analysis (CMA). We adopted heterozygous (GG vs. AG) model. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CIs) was calculated to measure the power of the link under heterozygous model (GG vs AG).Result: Overall result obtained under fixed effect model are [OR: 1.066, 95% CI: 0.989-1.267, P: 0.464].Conclusion: Our meta-analysis indicates that IL-10 promoter-1082 polymorphism under fixed effect model is not associated with the overall risk of developing cancer, HCV, Bechet’s disease and diabetes type-2

catena-Poly[[trimethyl­tin(IV)]-μ-[(E)-2-methyl-3-(3-methyl­phen­yl)acrylato-κ2 O:O′]]

The title trimethyl­tin(IV) carboxyl­ate, [Sn(CH3)3(C11H11O2)]n, is a carboxyl­ate-bridged polymer in which the Sn atom exists in a trans-C3SnO2 trigonal bipyramidal coordination. One Sn—O bond is a covalent bond [2.114 (2) Å], whereas the other is a dative bond [2.607 (2) Å]. The polymeric chain propagates along the b axis of the monoclinic unit cell

Bipolar complex fuzzy semigroups

The notion of the bipolar complex fuzzy set (BCFS) is a fundamental notion to be considered for tackling tricky and intricate information. Here, in this study, we want to expand the notion of BCFS by giving a general algebraic structure for tackling bipolar complex fuzzy (BCF) data by fusing the conception of BCFS and semigroup. Firstly, we investigate the bipolar complex fuzzy (BCF) sub-semigroups, BCF left ideal (BCFLI), BCF right ideal (BCFRI), BCF two-sided ideal (BCFTSI) over semigroups. We also introduce bipolar complex characteristic function, positive $\left(\omega , \eta \right)$-cut, negative $\left(\varrho , \sigma \right)$-cut, positive and $\left(\left(\omega , \eta \right), \left(\varrho , \sigma \right)\right)$-cut. Further, we study the algebraic structure of semigroups by employing the most significant concept of BCF set theory. Also, we investigate numerous classes of semigroups such as right regular, left regular, intra-regular, and semi-simple, by the features of the bipolar complex fuzzy ideals. After that, these classes are interpreted concerning BCF left ideals, BCF right ideals, and BCF two-sided ideals. Thus, in this analysis, we portray that for a semigroup $Ş$ and for each BCFLI ${М}_{1} = \left({\mathrm{\lambda }}_{P-{М}_{1}}, {\mathrm{\lambda }}_{N-{М}_{1}}\right) = \left({\mathrm{\lambda }}_{RP-{М}_{1}}+\iota {\mathrm{\lambda }}_{IP-{М}_{1}}, {\mathrm{\lambda }}_{RN-{М}_{1}}+\iota {\mathrm{\lambda }}_{IN-{М}_{1}}\right)$ and BCFRI ${М}_{2} = \left({\mathrm{\lambda }}_{P-{М}_{2}}, {\mathrm{\lambda }}_{N-{М}_{2}}\right) = \left({\mathrm{\lambda }}_{RP-{М}_{2}}+\iota {\mathrm{\lambda }}_{IP-{М}_{2}}, {\mathrm{\lambda }}_{RN-{М}_{2}}+\iota {\mathrm{\lambda }}_{IN-{М}_{2}}\right)$ over $Ş$, ${М}_{1}\cap {М}_{2} = {М}_{1}⊚{М}_{2}$ if and only if $Ş$ is a regular semigroup. At last, we introduce regular, intra-regular semigroups and show that ${М}_{1}\cap {М}_{2}\preccurlyeq {М}_{1}⊚{М}_{2}$ for each BCFLI ${М}_{1} = \left({\mathrm{\lambda }}_{P-{М}_{1}}, {\mathrm{\lambda }}_{N-{М}_{1}}\right) = \left({\mathrm{\lambda }}_{RP-{М}_{1}}+\iota {\mathrm{\lambda }}_{IP-{М}_{1}}, {\mathrm{\lambda }}_{RN-{М}_{1}}+\iota {\mathrm{\lambda }}_{IN-{М}_{1}}\right)$ and for each BCFRI ${М}_{2} = \left({\mathrm{\lambda }}_{P-{М}_{2}}, {\mathrm{\lambda }}_{N-{М}_{2}}\right) = \left({\mathrm{\lambda }}_{RP-{М}_{2}}+\iota {\mathrm{\lambda }}_{IP-{М}_{2}}, {\mathrm{\lambda }}_{RN-{М}_{2}}+\iota {\mathrm{\lambda }}_{IN-{М}_{2}}\right)$ over $Ş$ if and only if a semigroup $Ş$ is regular and intra-regular