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

Factors Affecting Readiness for Business Process Reengineering-Developing and Proposing a Conceptual Model

In this paper researcher made an effort to suggest an approach to minimize risk of implementing Business Process Reengineering (BPR) initiatives by identifying certain factors crucial towards creating readiness for BPR. Lack of readiness is main factor behind high rate of BPR failures. Extensive literature review and interviews from the panel of experts provided sufficient background information. Leadership style, Information technology (IT), Top management commitment and collaborative working figured out as critical factors towards creating readiness. Regular leadership actions consistent with organizational environment, collaborative working, Information Technology and Top management commitment could promote coherence in organizational members' readiness perceptions. Assessing BPR readiness can address strong points, weak points and risks, and hence the ranking/level of readiness in the organization. Keywords: Business process reengineering, Business process readiness, Critical success factors, Organizational change

Work life conflict impact on Female’s Job performance. A study of primary level female school teachers in Pakistan

The study is focused on impact of work life conflict on job performance of female school teachers while keeping organization policy as a moderating variable. Data was collected from 200 female school teachers of different schools using questionnaires. Result showed that Work life conflict has a negative impact on job performance of female employees and Organization policies do not moderate this relationship. The results are analysed using Regression and other statistical tests to check that whether organization policies contribute to reduce work life pressure and stress or not. The research proved that improvement is desired in improving organization policies to enhance female teachers’ performance and increase their motivation reducing work life pressure and strain. Keywords: Work Life conflict, Job performance, Organization Policy, Education sector, Pakistan, female teachers, private school

Integration of Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility with Other Key Anchors of Success

Corporate Social Responsibility is a firm’s moral obligation towards its customers. Usually CSR is seen in the context of buyers, customers and society outside the organization scenario. The present study examines strategic corporate social responsibility from employees’ perspective mediated by human resource development in relation to employee engagement and emotional intelligence. A structured questionnaire is used to collect the data from the employees serving private and foreign banks. Findings reveal a positive and significant impact of Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Resource Development on Employee Engagement and Emotional Intelligence. Keywords: Strategic corporate social responsibility, emotional intelligence, employee engagement, human resource development, banking sector, Pakista

Lead-free piezoelectric K0.5Bi0.5TiO3–Bi(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3 ceramics with depolarisation temperatures up to ~220 C

The properties of K0.5Bi0.5TiO3-rich ceramic solid solutions in the system (1 - x)K0.5Bi0.5TiO3– xBi(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3 are reported. The highest values of piezoelectric charge coefficient, d33, and field-induced strains are found in compositions located close to a compositional boundary between single-phase tetragonal and mixed tetragonal ? cubic perovskite phases. Maximum d33 values were *150 pC/N for x = 0.03, with positive strains of *0.25 %; the x = 0.04 composition had a d33 * 133 pC/N and strain of 0.35 % (bipolar electric field, 50 kV/ cm, 1 Hz). Depolarisation temperature Td is an important selection criterion for any lead-free piezoelectric for actuator or sensor applications. A Td of *220 C for x = 0.03 is *100 C higher than for the widely reported Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3–BaTiO3 system, yet d33 values and strains are similar, suggesting the new material is worthy of further attention as a lead-free piezoceramic for elevated temperature applications

Temperature-Stable Dielectric Ceramics based on Na₀.₅Bi₀.₅TiO₃

Multiple ion substitutions to Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 give rise to favourable dielectric properties over the technologically important temperature range −55 °C to 300 °C. A relative permittivity, εr, = 1300 ± 15% was recorded, with low loss tangent, tanδ ≤ 0.025, for temperatures from 310 °C to 0 °C, tanδ increasing to 0.05 at −55 °C (1 kHz) in the targeted solid solution (1–x)[0.85Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3–0.15Ba0.8Ca0.2Ti1-yZryO3]–xNaNbO3: x = 0.3, y = 0.2. The εr-T plots for NaNbO3 contents x < 0.2 exhibited a frequency-dependent inflection below the temperature of a broad dielectric peak. Higher levels of niobate substitution resulted in a single peak with frequency dispersion, typical of a normal relaxor ferroelectric. Experimental trends in properties suggest that the dielectric inflection is the true relaxor dielectric peak and appears as an inflection due to overlap with an independent broad dielectric peak. Process-related cation and oxygen vacancies and their possible contributions to dielectric properties are discussed

Effects of Low Molecular Weight and Unfractionated Heparin on Lipoprotein Lipase and Lipid Profile in haemodialysis patients

Introduction: In haemodialysis patients, mortality from cardiovascular disease is much greater than in the general population. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of two different types of heparin, low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) and high molecular weight heparin (HMWH), on lipid profile in patients undergoing haemodialysis. Material & Methods: A total of 60 patients on haemodialysis were selected from two main hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan and were divided into two major groups based on the type of heparin used. A 5 ml blood sample was taken from the dialysis machine to get the serum and was kept frozen at -20ºC for analysis of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein. Comparison of lipoprotein lipase activity between groups were evaluated by using the student t-test. A P-value of ? 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Gender wise distribution of study population (n=60) was 67% (n=40) males and 33% (n=20) females. The age distribution of individuals varied from 39-43 years. Moreover, use of HMWH was high in males (73%) as compared to female (27%) with an average age of 39 ± 12 years where duration of haemodialysis was 4.44 ± 2.83. A significant difference in LPL activity related to different times in all patients was observed. A clearer difference observed in case of LDL where LPL activity was markedly different in both groups. Our data showed that individuals using LMWH had less chances of dyslipidaemia as compared to those using HMWH. Conclusion: LMWH is a useful and safe anticoagulant during haemodialysis as compared to HMWH

An innovative state-of-the-art health storytelling technique for better management of type 2 diabetes

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic lifelong disease that requires long-term prevention and management strategies in a community setting. A health story is a novel technique that may be used as an effective tool for better prevention and management of T2D. Objective: The main objective of this study is to develop a story to be used as a social health technique based on contemporary scientific knowledge that may be used at a community level for better communication and management of T2D. Methods: A community–academic partnership was formed with a not-for-profit Nutrition Education, Awareness, and Training (NEAT) organization in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. We agreed to develop a story that may be used as a health and nutrition education communication tool for better management of patients with T2D. The following phases were followed during the story creation process: (1) the theory phase, (2) the modeling phase, and (3) the evaluation phase. Raters evaluated the story to determine its literary and scientific quality, comprehensiveness, and T2D specificity. Results: The title of the story translated into English is “The Story of Diabetes—The Story of Success.” It is text based and contains 86 pages in the local language, “Pashto,” with an English translation. The story is divided into five chapters and describes the initial diagnosis, fear associated with the disease, issues related to referral to certified practitioners, the importance of a balanced diet, and related lifestyle habits. After story evaluation, the raters suggested its literary and scientific quality, comprehensiveness, and T2D specificity (Pearson correlation scores of \u3e0.8). Conclusion: This unique story was created for T2D and found to be of significant quality in terms of its literary and scientific quality, as well as its comprehensiveness and diabetes specificity. As a result, it may be suggested that it can be used in subsequent studies to improve T2D management among adult patients

Investigation of anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory potential and ADMET studies of pure compounds isolated from Isodon rugosus Wall. ex Benth

The strong ethnopharmacological utilization of Isodon rugosus Wall. Ex. Benth is evident in the treatment of several types of pain and inflammation, including toothache, earache, abdominal pain, gastric pain, and generalized body pain and inflammation. Based on this background, the antinociceptive effects of the crude extract, various fractions, and essential oil have been reported previously. In this research work, we isolate and characterize pure bioactive compounds from I. rugosus and evaluate possible mechanisms using various in vivo and in vitro models. The pure compounds were analyzed for analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities through various assays. The column chromatography of the chloroform fraction of I. rugosus led to the identification of two pure compounds, i.e., 1 and 2. Compound 1 demonstrated notable inhibition (62% writhing inhibition, 72.77% COX-2 inhibition, and 76.97% 5-LOX inhibition) and anti-inflammatory potential (&gt;50% paw edema inhibition at various intervals). The possible mechanism involved in antinociception was considered primarily, a concept that has already been elucidated through the application of naloxone (an antagonist of opioid receptors). The involvement of adrenergic receptors was investigated using a hot plate model (an adrenergic receptor antagonist). The strong ethnomedicinal analgesic background of I. rugosus, supported by previous reports and current observations, leads to the conclusion that I. rugosus is a potential source of antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory bioactive compounds. It may be concluded from the results that the isolated analgesic compounds of I. rugosus may be a possible alternative remedy for pain and inflammation management with admirable efficacy and safety profiles