Sports Tourism In Post Conflict Peace Building: Evidence From Swat, Pakistan

Taliban uprising in Swat followed by military operations and floods severely damaged the tourism industry of Swat. Skiing festival in Malamjabba and Aman Festival in Kalam were instrumental in bringing tourists back to Swat in post conflict scenario. The study focused on the contribution of Skiing at MalamJabba in revival of tourism and post conflict peace building. Mixed method approach was used to collect data from fifty respondents that included tourists, tourism service providers and representatives of relevant stake holders from government and private organizations. Questionnairs followed by in depth interviews were used to collect the data. Findings of the study indicated that skiing played a very important role in the revival of tourism. Most of the tourist whose primary motivation was skiing at Malamjabbaalso visited or had intentions to visit other areas of Swat. Local communities are engaged in the industry at different levels constituting about 91 percent of the total labor force. Winter sports and increasing range of tourism products means increasing tourist season in the area that provides sustainable source of livelihoods for local community. Engagement of youth in sports and income generating activities provides an important tool for the peace building in the area

Abstracts from the 7th annual neurology research day, shifa international hospital, islamabad

:It\u27s a cross sectional study conducted at CP clinic of Armed Forces institute of Rehabilitation medicine Rawalpindi from Jan 2012 to Jan 2013. All cerebral palsy children above 2 years of age and both genders were included in study. SPSS version 17 was used for data analysis

Stock Price Volatility and Role of Dividend Policy: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

Despite years of empirical research, the linkage between dividend policy and stock price volatility remains controversial among the researchers and scholars. This research endeavors to figure out the relationship between stock price volatility and dividend policy of listed companies in Pakistan. A sample of fifty firms, based upon consistent dividend paying behavior, listed on Karachi Stock Exchange has been selected from non-financial sectors, for the period of 2005 to 2012. Multiple regressions analyses have been carried on by applying random effect model on panel data i.e. for empirical estimation and robustness, panel EGLS methods is used for finding relationship between dividend policy (dividend payout and dividend yield) and stock price volatility after controlling for firm size, asset growth, long term debt, earning volatility and earnings per share. The study has found significant negative relationship between stock price volatility and dividend policy variables i.e. dividend payout and dividend yield. Study has also found significant positive relationship between control variables (asset growth, earning volatility and earnings per share) and stock price volatility in KSE. But in case of the remaining two control variables i.e. firm size and long term debt, these were found to be negatively related to stock price volatility. The findings of this research are expected to contribute to dividend policy literature by providing evidence from Pakistani stock market to prior studies done in developed and developing countries. Keywords: Stock Price Volatility, Dividend Policy, Dividend Yield, Dividend Payout, Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE), Random Effect Model. JEL Classifications: G20. G30, G3

Lung carcinoma: its profile and changing trends

BACKGROUND: Lung Carcinoma is the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide with an incidence of 1.3 million cases per year. This study was undertaken to determine prevalence of various histological types of lung carcinoma and to analyse their changing trends with time. METHODS: This is a retrospective analytical study. A total of 330 cases of lung carcinoma were analysed from 2003 to 2008. Cases from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) were included in this study. Furthermore, only cases of lung carcinoma were considered while other malignancies were excluded. RESULTS: Squamous Cell carcinoma was found in 42.7% of cases. Overall male to female ratio was 2.67:1. Prevalence of Squamous Cell carcinoma increased from 32% to 57.9% while that of Small Cell carcinoma increased from 12% to 17.1%. Unspecified type showed decrease from 36% to 5.3%. Increase in the prevalence of Squamous Cell carcinoma was found in both males and females while change in the prevalence of Small Cell carcinoma was found on!y in males. CONCLUSION: Squamous Cell carcinoma was the most prevalent variant of lung carcinoma in our region, followed by Adenocarcinoma. Male to female ratio across different histological patterns did not show significant variation. Increase in the prevalence of Squamous Cell carcinoma was statistically significant in both males and females while in case of Small Cell carcinoma change in its prevalence was also significant in males

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of parents regarding antibiotic use in children

Background: Emerging resistance to antimicrobial chemotherapy is becoming a challenge for medicine in recent times. Un-prescribed use of antibiotics is a major contributor to development of this problem. In Pakistan access to antibiotics remains unchecked and hence results in it are over use. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge of parents regarding use of antibiotics, its associated problems, their source of information and their expectations from Paediatricians for prescription of anti-biotics.Methods: This is a questionnaire based cross sectional study conducted in Hayatabad town, District Peshawar. Parents who were consenting, had children aged between 0-16 years, and were not related to medical profession were included in study. Total number of participants interviewed was 400. Analysis was done using prevalence ratios.Results: Most of the participants were mothers. Majority of respondents were literate with education up till level of Graduation. 64% mentioned that they enjoyed a good access to healthcare. Most common source for use of antibiotics was Physician. 35% mentioned that antibiotics must be administered in any case of fever, 47% thought antibiotics to increase recovery time and 51% knew that antibiotics have their own side effect. The most common reason to administer un-prescribed antibiotics was same antibiotic being prescribed by a physician earlier followed by family member or pharmacist recommending use of antibiotic. Lack of resources was denied as a reason for self-administration of antibiotics by majority of parents.CONCLUSION: There is a need of intervention to increase awareness regarding judicious use of antibiotics and to check un-prescribed dispensing of antibiotics

Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of three new Schiff bases derived from amino acids and their Ag(I) complexes

ABSTRACT. Three Schiff base ligands which were derived from glycine, asparagine and alanine L1, L2 and L3 were designed and used to synthesized their Ag(I) complexes. 1H NMR, FT-IR, UV-Visible and conductance techniques were used to characterize the ligands and their metal complexes. The synthesized compounds showed antioxidant activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Schiff bases and their Ag(I) complexes were screened for antimicrobial activity, in vitro antibacterial activity against three gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhi with two gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis by micro plate almar blue assay (MABA), antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata by agar tube dilution protocol. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity was performed by heat induce denaturation method and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was performed by induced paw edema method. Cytotoxicity of the synthesized compounds was recorded against cyclohexamide by MTT assay. Ag(I) metal complexes showed more significant biological activities as compared to ligands.                 KEY WORDS: Schiff bases, Metal complexes, Cytotoxicity, Antifungal, Antibacterial, Anti-inflammatory Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2022, 36(1), 45-56.                                                                    DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v36i1.5                                                       &nbsp

Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Potential of Aerial Parts of Monotheca buxifolia

In this study, different aerial parts of Monotheca Buxifolia were screened for their antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-oxidant activity. Extract of the fruit was most active against P. mirabilis, MSSA and M. morganii strains. Moreover, the methanolic fruit extract demonstrated good antibacterial properties against VRSA, S. aureus and Acinetobacter. Despite having good antibacterial properties, Monotheca buxifolia showed low antifungal activity. The cytotoxic activity was the highest in the pet-ether fruit extract, causing 60% of lethality against Artemia salina larvae with LD50 at 3.307. The highest scavenging activity was shown by the methanolic leaf extract in a concentration-dependent pattern. The findings of this study suggest that Monotheca Buxifolia has good antibacterial, antioxidant potential but low antifungal properties

Protective role of epiphytic fluorescent <i>Pseudomonas</i> on natural postharvest decay of tomato at room temperature

 Following harvest, tomato fruits are susceptible to attack by many fungal pathogens, but  healthy fruits may also  harbor beneficial microflora, which can delayed the spoilage  of fruit. In this study, 30 isolates of epiphytic fluorescent Pseudomonas  were isolated from healthy fruits of lemon, melon, grapefruit, tomato and orange. Twelve isolates were identified on molecular basis by amplifying 16S rDNA using a genus-specific primer set PA-GS-F 5’-GACGGGTGAGTAATGCCTA-3’ and PA-GS-R F 5’-CACTGGTGTTCCTTCCTATA-3’ on a conserved sequence of the genus Pseudomonas with a product size ~618 bp. Three potential isolates were examined for their ability to  delayed the  postharvest natural  spoilage and maintained the physiochemical properties during storage for fifteen days in season 2013 and 2014. All three isolates showed promising control of postharvest diseases of tomato in comparison with control in both seasons up to fifteen days of storage at room temperature (23±4 ºC, Rh 25-70%). The epiphytic bacterial isolates has delayed the fruit weight loss and maintained  fruit firmness, total solids, pH and titratable acidity. Isolates also slowed the accumulation of lycopene indicating their potential in controlling the major changes in physiochemical properties. In both season Pseudomonas treated tomatoes showed no or negligible infestation of common postharvest fungi and bacteria as compared to control and positive control (1% K-sorbate)

Structural modifications in Bermuda grass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] ecotypes for adaptation to environmental heterogeneity

IntroductionIt is well known that different ecotypes adopt different mechanisms to survive under environmental stress conditions. In this regard, each ecotype showed different type of modifications for their existence in a specific habitat that reflects to their ecological success.MethodsHere, differently adapted ecotypes of Bermuda grass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] were collected to evaluate their differential structural and functional modifications that are specific to cope with environmental stress conditions. The soil that adheres ecotypes roots were highly saline in case of DF-SD (Derawar Fort-Saline Desert), UL-HS (Ucchali Lake-Hyper Saline) and G-SSA (Gatwala-Saline Semiarid) ecotypes. Soils of S- HS (Sahianwala-Hyper Saline), S-SW (Sahianwala-Saline Wetland) and PA-RF (Pakka Anna-Reclaimed Field) were basic (pH 9 to 10). Soils of UL-HS and PA- HS (Pakka Anna-Hyper Saline), KKL-S (Kalar Kahar Lake-Saline), BG-NS (Botanic Garden-Non Saline) and G-SSA were rich in organic matter, and soil of BG-NS and DF-SD were rich in minerals. Anatomical modifications were performed by using the free hand sectioning technique and light microscopy.Results and DiscussionDF-SD is one of the best ecotypes which showed anatomical modifications to cope with environmental changes. These modifications included stem cross-sectional area and leaf sheath thickness that contribute towards water storage, vascular tissues for proficient translocation of solutes and trichomes that provide resistance to water loss. On the other hand, sclerification in root is the only notable modification in the Gatwala Saline Semiarid (G-SSA) ecotype from saline arid habitat where rainfall is not as low as in the Cholistan Desert. Two ecotypes from hyper-saline wetlands, UL-HS and KL-HS showed increased number and size of vascular tissue, central cavity and sclerification in stem which are important for solutes conduction, water loss and salts bulk movement, respectively. The ecotype from reclaimed site was not much different from its counterpart from hyper-saline dryland. Overall, anatomical modifications to maintain water conservation are key mechanisms that have been identified as mediating stress tolerance in C. dactylon ecotypes