The relationship between Islamic bank products, client attraction and business expansion: Evidence from Pakistani banking industry

This research article investigates the relationship between Islamic bank products, client attraction, and business expansion in the Pakistani industry. The study utilizes a survey of Islamic bank customers and employs structural equation modeling to test the proposed relationships. The results indicate that Islamic bank products have a positive relationship with both client attraction and business expansion, and that client attraction mediates the relationship between Islamic bank products and business expansion. The implications of these findings for the Islamic banking industry in Pakistan and beyond are discussed, as well as limitations and potential avenues for future research

Development of Fundal Varices in Cirrhotic Patients after Eradication of Esophageal Varices

Background: To analyze the development of fundal varices in cirrhotic patients after eradication of esophageal varicesMethods: In this observational study 150 patients of liver cirrhosis, with the history of upper gastrointestinal tract bleed and esophageal varices of grade F2 and F3 but absence of fundal varices, were included. Patients who had previous history of banding were excluded.Results: Eighty one (54%) patients were male. Mean age of the patients was 49.34±11.45 years. Twenty two (14.66%) developed fundal varices of which 2(1.33%) patients developed fundal varices at 2 months, 8(5.33%) patients developed fundal varices at 4 months following banding, and 12(8%) patients developed fundal varices at 6 months following banding of esophageal varices. Fourteen (63.63%) patients had GOV2 while 8(36.36%) had IGV1. Conclusion: New fundal varices develop with increasing frequency in patients treated with esophageal variceal band ligation, and the incidence has a time-dependent relationship

Barriers in FinTech Success: Evidence from Pakistani Financial Marketplace

This study examined the relationships between FinTech barriers, acceptance, and success, and explores the mediating role of acceptance in the relationship between barriers and success. A survey was conducted with 251 FinTech users, and the data were analyzed using Smart PLS. The results indicate that FinTech barriers have a negative effect on both acceptance and success, while acceptance has a positive effect on success. Furthermore, the analysis supports the hypothesis that acceptance mediates the relationship between barriers and success. These findings have important implications for both researchers and practitioners in the FinTech industry. For researchers, the results highlight the importance of considering the role of barriers to adoption and the mechanisms through which acceptance affects success. For practitioners, the findings suggest that reducing barriers to adoption and promoting acceptance may be important strategies for achieving greater success in the FinTech industry. Overall, the results provide valuable insights into the factors that drive success in the rapidly evolving FinTech industry, and can help guide future research and practice in this important area

Impact of Firm Size on Earnings Management; A Study of Textile Sector of Pakistan

The study was conducted to evaluate the impact of firm size on earnings management for the textile sector of Pakistan. For this purpose annual ten years data was obtained from 2004 to 2013 for fifty selected firms from the textile sector of Pakistan. Natural logarithm of total assets was used as the proxy of firm size. On the other hand earning management was the dependent variable of this study. Earnings management was measured through discretionary accruals by using modified Jones model. Descriptive statistics, correlation and panel data analysis was used for capturing the impact of firm size on earnings management. The statistical results of this study revealed that there is positive and significant impact of firm size on earnings management. Keywords: Firm Size, Discretionary Accruals, Earnings Management, Karachi Stock Exchang

Current trends in the treatment of hepatitis C

Viral hepatitis, an inflammatory liver disease, is caused by various genotypes of hepatitis C viruses (HCV). Hepatitis C slowly sprouts into fibrosis, which progresses to cirrhosis. Over a prolonged period of time compensated cirrhosis can advance to decompensated cirrhosis culminating in hepatic failure and death. Conventional treatment of HCV involves the administration of interferons. However, association of interferon with the adverse drug reactions led to the development of novel anti-HCV drugs given as monotherapy or in combination with the other drugs. Advances in drug delivery systems (DDS) improved the pharmacokinetic profile and stability of drugs, ameliorated tissue damages on extravasation and increased the targeting of affected sites. Liposomes and lipid based vehicles have been employed with polyethylene glycol (PEG) so as to stabilize the formulations as PEG drug complex. Sofosbuvir, a novel anti-HCV drug, is administered as monotherapy or in combination with daclatasvir, ledipasivir, protease inhibitors, ribavirin and interferon for the treatment of HCV genotypes 1, 2 and 3. These drug combinations are highly effective in eradicating the interferon resistance, recurrent HCV infection in liver transplant, concurrent HIV infection and preventing interferon related adverse effects. Further investigations to improve drug targeting and identification of new drug targets are highly warranted due to the rapid emergence of drug resistance in HCV

Screening of Wheat Germplasm for Various Phenological and Grain Yield Traits

Wheat germplasm were evaluated at experimental Farm of ARI, Mingora Swat, for various characteristics. The experiment was arranged in Randomized Complete Block design with three replications. A plot size of 4x5 m2 was maintained. Wheat Genotype,  WG6 took maximum (138) days to heading followed by Genotype WG13 with maximum of 136 days while Genotypes, WG1, WG3, WG5, and WG12 took minimum of 133 days to heading. Genotypes WG1 and WG12 took maximum (184) days to maturity while Genotype WG2 and WG8 matured earlier (175 days). Maximum plant height (103 cm) at maturity was recorded in wheat Genotype WG11 which was significantly more than that of all other used Genotypes. The minimum of 88 cm plant height was recorded in Genotypes WG14 and WG19. Significantly higher yield of 4642 kg per hectares was recorded in Genotype WG15 followed by Genotype WG20 with grain yield of 4442 kg per hectares. It is concluded that variety well adapted to the agro-ecological conditions of Swat can be selected from these Genotypes for cultivation. Keywords: Screening, Wheat germplasm, Phonological traits, Grain yiel

Economic Analysis Based on Benefit Cost Ratio Approach for Rice Varieties of Malakand Division

Different rice varieties of Malakand division were economically compared using cost benefit analysis approachduring 2014. Data was recorded on a randomly selected sample size of 50 farmers in three districts (Swat,Malakand and Lower Dir) by structured questionnaire. Rice varieties namely, Fakhre Malakand, JP5, Basmati-385, Sara Saila and Mardanai were used in the study. The total per acre paddy and straw yield of rice varietiesamounted a sum of Rs.165000 for Fakhre Malakand, Rs. 115000 for Basmati 385, Rs.110000 for JP5,Rs.104000 for Sara Saila and Rs.93000 for Mardanai. The Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) was higher for varietyFakhre Malakand having value of 3.24 and least for variety Mardanai with a value of 1.39. The varieties Basmati385, JP5 and Sara Saila presented a close value of Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) with respect to each other viz. 1.95,1.82 and 1.67 respectively. On the basis of BCR values Fakhre Malakand found to have more commercialbenefits to the farming community of the area than the other cultivated varieties.Keywords: Cost benefit ratio, Rice varietie