Dynamics of Pakistan’s Ballistic Missile Acquisition

Arms dynamic studies are concerned with explaining the causes and consequences of state’s decision to acquire arms. Such studies are dominated by two opposing models. First, the action-reaction model, which posits a state’s decision to acquire arms as a rational response to external threats and consequently it enables them to deter belligerent adversaries. Second, the domestic structure model, which holds that arms acquisitions are an outcome of domestic interests and consequently create instability and strain political relations. Traditionally the two models have competed for exclusivity in explaining armament phenomena. However, more recent studies argue that they are, in fact, not mutually exclusive but complementary to each other. The basic underlying assumption of these studies is, while external security threats may provide a rationale for a state to acquire arms the scale and manner by which the state arms itself will be determined by domestic forces. The basic generalisations for the two models have been extracted from the armament dynamics of the Cold War superpowers or the major arms producing states from the Western Hemisphere or Global North. In the case of less industrialised weapons producer like Pakistan the literature takes a narrow approach, identifying its behaviour as congruent with action- reaction model and downplaying the importance of domestic-structure model. This thesis argues that not only the action-reaction process in the case of Pakistan’s ballistic missile competition vis-à-vis that of India is less understood but domestic factors have also played a crucial role in the ballistic missile acquisition. In accordance with this argument this thesis hopes to conduct a twofold analysis into the external and internal dynamics of Pakistan’s ballistic missile acquisition. The research postulates that while external threats have provided rationale for Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme, domestic factors have intervened to influence certain missile developments in the programme

Isolated Sacral Metastasis Mimicking a Chordoma Presenting as a First Manifestation of Thyroid Malignancy: Case Report

Fifty-nine years old female presented with the clinical manifestations of lumbosacral plexopathy. MR imaging revealed a large destructive pelvic mass of sacral origin, mimicking a sacral chordoma. Histopathological findings are suggestive of follicular variant of papillary carcinoma of thyroid origin. There was no clinically palpable thyroid lesion or any clinical feature suggestive of thyroid dysfunction. This report describes an isolated sacral metastasis of thyroid origin without prior clinical features of thyroid malignancy. Keywords:  Sacral metastasis, Thyroid metastasis, sacral chordoma, spinal metastasis, sacral tumor, pelvic tumors

Corporate governance, ownership structure and dividend smoothing : the mediating role of family ownership and board diversity in emerging markets

Purpose: The study attempts to explore the determinants of dividend smoothing behavior of firms by using firm’s specific characteristics, corporate governance and ownership structure variables as determinants of dividend smoothing in emerging markets due to their unique features from Western markets. The current study is undertaken to fill this gap in the literature. Design/methodology/approach: In order to achieve the research objectives penal data (2009-2018) of more than 1000 Asian firms were analyzed by using Statistical techniques such as pool, fixed and random models. Findings: Based on gender critical mass theory, the study finds that the presence of gender critical mass is positive and significantly associated with firm dividend smoothing behavior; whereas, presence of fewer women depicts negative or insignificant association with dividend smoothing behavior. Importantly, the study also finds moderating role of gender diversity between family ownership and firm’s dividend smoothing behavior. Furthermore, contrary to the agency theory based on explanations of dividend smoothing, firms with family ownership smooth dividend more in emerging markets. Practical implications: This paper helps out to the current as well as future potential investors to make better decision in such a changing economy as well as to help investors in selecting better investment opportunity to make their investment more profitable. Originality/value: The current study is the first of its kind to investigate dividend-smoothing behavior for more than 1000 firms of emerging Asian countries based on cross country analysis.peer-reviewe

Ticks in Cattle: Their Importance and Chemical and Treatment Control

Ticks transfer diseases to animals and humans. Ticks create major financial losses to livestock and have a variation of adverse special effects on cattle hosts. Tick working as possible vectors for helminth parasites and haemoprotozoa cause blood loss directly. Large numbers of tick’s drinking red blood induce anaemia and decreased living weight in cattle animals, even though their bites can damage the skins. Ticks, are answerable for important financial losses due to their potential to transmit rickettsial, viral infections and protozoan to cattles. Here are a variety of ticks-control tactics available, but then again each has its own set of problems. The importance of ticks and their control are the topic of this review. Ticks have controlled by the help of vaccine and spray or chemicals compounds etc

Association of hypoadiponectemia with smokeless/dipping tobacco use in young men

Background: Low levels of adiponectin, an adipocytokine with anti-diabetic, antiatherogenic and cardioprotective properties, is associated with increased risk of coronary disease in young men. Previous studies have demonstrated that smokeless tobacco is linked with a reduction of plasma adiponectin levels. However, the influence of smokeless tobacco (dipping tobacco) on plasma adiponectin levels still remains unknown. This study was conducted to assess the plasma adiponectin levels in young men who were using dipping tobacco. Methods: This was a community based study, which consisted of 186 young lean healthy males aged 20 to 35 years. Among these, 96 men were dipping tobacco users (BMI = 23.07 ± 2.68) and 90 were non-dipping tobacco users (BMI = 23.67 ± 1.46). Serum adiponectin levels were assessed by Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA). Results: A statistically significant difference in the mean adiponectin level between tobacco dipper and non-dipper groups was observed (p = 0.0001). A significant difference between the two groups was also observed in baseline parameters including triglyceride and random blood sugar levels (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in other clinical parameters. Conclusions: Findings of this study suggest that dipping tobacco use was significantly associated with low level of adiponetin in community dwelling young males. This emphasizes the importance of developing community intervention to reduce the use of dipping tobacco, which will reduce the tobacco associated disease burden in the community and will improve public health

Designing an IT-Based System for Optimizing Lung Cancer Management

Digital health offers lung cancer patients to improve their health status while allowing patients, providers, and administrators to coordinate data and care at individual and community levels. While technology improvements provide lung cancer patients and healthcare providers with a valuable new tool for disease management, these are yet to be widely accepted. In particular, we aim to: (1) develop a Machine Learning (ML)-based framework for data collection from active online lung cancer forums and other parameters for patients, providers and their organizations, (2) build an AI-based model to develop a cancer ontology for exploring different factors and patients’ emotions associated to lung cancer management, (3) Design a mHealth app to set up a support system in terms of providing patients with information and social support, and ML models-based treatment recommendation system. The IT-based support system will provide the best and most specific treatment plan and recommendation system for lung cancer management