Educational Use of Smartphone among University Students: A survey of world-ranked universities in Pakistan

The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of smartphones in achieving educational goals. Moreover, this study also explores the required library services that should be accessible via smartphone. A quantitative research approach was adopted and a self-administered questionnaire was distributed among those students who currently using smartphones to answer the survey. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyze the purpose of the students in relation to use their smartphones. The findings indicate that the university students had a positive attitude to use the smartphone for academic purposes on average and across the board. They used the smartphones on the basis of priority to prepare class assignments, searching and reading course-related material, watching online lectures and sharing information with their classmates. They recommended that Information about new arrivals of books, e-journals, library events, e-books, online tutorials, OPAC, and e-databases are preferred services that should be accessible via smartphone. This study provides useful insights for academic institutions to offer the online learning platform supported via smartphone and also helpful for librarians to offer smartphone-based library services to the library patrons

A Time Series Analysis of Energy Consumption, Energy Prices and Economic Growth in Pakistan

The present study is conducted to investigate the impact of Energy Consumption (EC) on the Economic Growth (EG) in Pakistan by using a trivariate model. Time series data of macroeconomic determinants of Energy Consumption (EC), Energy Prices (EP) and Economic Growth (EG) are used to analyze the linkage among the variables. Annual data are collected from different published sources like World Development Indicators (WDI), BP Statistical Review and Economic Surveys of Pakistan for the period 1971-2014. Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) unit root test and Phillips Perron unit root test are used to examine the stationarity of data and all the variables are found stationary in differenced form. Short run and long run linkage among the variables is examined through Johansen co-integration test and the results confirm the existence of one co-integrating vector among the variables. Granger causality test under Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) is applied to observe the direction of between Energy Consumption (EC), Energy Prices (EP) and economic growth (EG). Unidirectional causality is found from Economic Growth (EG) to Energy Consumption (EC) and unidirectional causality from Energy Consumption (EC) to Energy Prices (EP) is also found in short run as well as in long run. On the basis of result of the study, conservation policy regarding to the Energy Consumption (EC) is suggested with a negligible or no effect on Economic Growth (EG)

Economic Analysis of Organic Wheat Production in Pakistan: Adoption and Return on Investment

The rising concern of conventional farming emphasized the need of organic farming which utilizes environment-friendly and economically-viable production methods. Pakistan has great potential but organic farming is not in practice. This study examined the constraints in adopting organic wheat and its impact on return on investment by employing farm level data of 300 wheat growers. We employ endogenous switching regression (ESR) approach that accounts for selection bias. The results show that organic wheat has significant and positive impact on the returns but adoption is slow due to number of limiting factors. Illiteracy, lack of information, liquidity constraint, complicated and costly certification process, absence of organic market and small land holdings are the major limiting factors for the adoption. Policy makers should focus to overcome the constraints of organic farming by providing easy, timely and adequate credit. Awareness and motivation of farmers should be done through education, training and extension services

A Time Series Analysis of Energy Consumption, Energy Prices and Economic Growth in Pakistan

The present study is conducted to investigate the impact of Energy Consumption (EC) on the Economic Growth (EG) in Pakistan by using a trivariate model. Time series data of macroeconomic determinants of Energy Consumption (EC), Energy Prices (EP) and Economic Growth (EG) are used to analyze the linkage among the variables. Annual data are collected from different published sources like World Development Indicators (WDI), BP Statistical Review and Economic Surveys of Pakistan for the period 1971-2014. Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) unit root test and Phillips Perron unit root test are used to examine the stationarity of data and all the variables are found stationary in differenced form. Short run and long run linkage among the variables is examined through Johansen co-integration test and the results confirm the existence of one co-integrating vector among the variables. Granger causality test under Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) is applied to observe the direction of between Energy Consumption (EC), Energy Prices (EP) and economic growth (EG). Unidirectional causality is found from Economic Growth (EG) to Energy Consumption (EC) and unidirectional causality from Energy Consumption (EC) to Energy Prices (EP) is also found in short run as well as in long run. On the basis of result of the study, conservation policy regarding to the Energy Consumption (EC) is suggested with a negligible or no effect on Economic Growth (EG)

Sonographic Evaluation of Endometrial Thickness in Postmenopausal Women- A Systemic Review

Postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) is highly suspicious of being a sign for the presence of endometrial cancer (EC) and around 5–12% of PMB results from EC. Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy in developed countries. A thin endometrium (≤4 mm) has a very high negative predictive value (99%). A thickened endometrium has been regarded as an indication for an invasive evaluation. Endometrial sampling is recommended, with a cutoff value of 4 mm or 5 mm, for symptomatic postmenopausal women. However, different guidelines use different cut-off values of endometrial thickness, varying from 3 mm-5 mm, for excluding endometrial malignancy. The widespread use of sonography has also allowed the incidental finding of endometrial thickening in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. There are few data on the workup of these women, and the best cut-off value for the endometrial thickness that should warrant endometrial sampling is not known. However, it has been suggested that the 4‐ or 5‐mm limits generally used for excluding malignancy in symptomatic postmenopausal women are not transferable to asymptomatic patients. The objective of this study was to sonographic evaluation of endometrial thickness in postmenopausal women. About 9 studies were selected for this systemic review. We extracted the following information: Study design, Age of patient mean and range, Duration of menopause mean and range, Body mass index mean and range, and Endometrial thickness mean and range. From the above analysis we concluded that, the endometrial thickness with a recommended change in the cut-off to 3mm in routine ultrasound practice should be done in high risk women to detect malignancy earlier in postmenopausal women and ultrasound is proved to be a useful tool for the disgnostic purpose. Keywords: Postmenopausal bleeding, Endometrial  thickness, Endometrial Carcinoma. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/82-04 Publication date: November 30th 202

Economic Analysis of Organic Wheat Production in Pakistan: Adoption and Return on Investment

The rising concern of conventional farming emphasized the need of organic farming which utilizes environment-friendly and economically-viable production methods. Pakistan has great potential but organic farming is not in practice. This study examined the constraints in adopting organic wheat and its impact on return on investment by employing farm level data of 300 wheat growers. We employ endogenous switching regression (ESR) approach that accounts for selection bias. The results show that organic wheat has significant and positive impact on the returns but adoption is slow due to number of limiting factors. Illiteracy, lack of information, liquidity constraint, complicated and costly certification process, absence of organic market and small land holdings are the major limiting factors for the adoption. Policy makers should focus to overcome the constraints of organic farming by providing easy, timely and adequate credit. Awareness and motivation of farmers should be done through education, training and extension services

The Impact of Migration on Rural Poverty: The Case Study of District Faisalabad, Pakistan

Internal-migration is the process of displacement of people within a country, mostly for better employment. Pakistan is among those South-Asian countries who have high rate of internal-migration. Poverty is considered to be an important factor in this context. This study estimates the rural-household poverty in Pakistan's Faisalabad District and the impact of internal-migration on rural-household poverty. By using stratified random sampling technique, 180 respondents were selected and interviewed. Propensity Score Matching method was used to examine the causal effect of internal-migration on household-poverty level. Results reveal that the ATT estimates of 0.18 for poverty reduction which shows that the household participation in the internal-migration decreases the probability of poverty by 0.18 points, suggesting that internal-migration has a significant impact on poverty reduction among the rural-households. The study suggests the policy makers to focus on rural development and enhance labor productivity, so that internal-migration is discouraged, which will ultimately reduce poverty. Keywords: Internal-Migration, Rural-Poverty, Pakistan JEL Classifications: I320, J11, D310, D1

Strategies to improve coverage of typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) immunization campaign in Karachi, Pakistan

The emergence and spread of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid in Karachi, Pakistan led to an outbreak response in Lyari Town, Karachi utilizing a mass immunization campaign with typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV), Typbar TCV®. The mass immunization campaign, targeted Lyari Town, Karachi, one of the worst affected towns during the XDR typhoid outbreak. Here we describe the strategies used to improve acceptance and coverage of Typbar TCV in Lyari Town, Karachi. The mass immunization campaign with Typbar TCV was started as a school- and hospital-based vaccination campaign targeting children between the age of 6 months to 15 years old. A dose of 0.5 mL Typbar TCV was administered intramuscularly. A mobile vaccination campaign was added to cope with high absenteeism and non-response from parents in schools and to cover children out of school. Different strategies were found to be effective in increasing the vaccination coverage and in tackling vaccine hesitancy. Community engagement was the most successful strategy to overcome refusals and helped to gain trust in the newly introduced vaccine. Community announcements and playing typhoid jingles helped to increase awareness regarding the ongoing typhoid outbreak. Mop-up activity in schools was helpful in increasing coverage. Networking with locally active groups, clubs and community workers were found to be the key factors in decreasing refusals

Effectiveness of typhoid conjugate vaccine against culture-confirmed typhoid in a peri-urban setting in Karachi : A case-control study

Background: Enteric fever, caused by Salmonella Typhi and S. Paratyphi, is a cause of high morbidity and mortality among children in South Asia. Rising antimicrobial resistance presents an additional challenge. Typhoid Conjugate Vaccines (TCV) are recommended by the World Health Organization for use among people 6 months to 45 years old living in endemic settings. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of TCV against culture-confirmed S. Typhi in Lyari Town, Karachi, Pakistan. This peri-urban town was one of the worst affected by the outbreak of extensively drug resistant (XDR) typhoid that started in November 2016. Methods: A matched case-control study was conducted following a mass immunization campaign with TCV at three key hospitals in Lyari Town Karachi, Pakistan. Children aged 6 months to 15 years presenting with culture-confirmed S. Typhi were enrolled as cases. For each case, at least 1 age-matched hospital control and two age-matched community controls were enrolled. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using conditional logistic regression. Results: Of 82 typhoid fever patients enrolled from August 2019 through December 2019, 8 (9·8%) had received vaccine for typhoid. Of the 164 community controls and 82 hospital controls enrolled, 38 (23·2%) community controls and 27 (32·9%) hospital controls were vaccinated for typhoid. The age and sex-adjusted vaccine effectiveness was found to be 72% (95% CI: 34% − 88%). The consumption of meals prepared outside home more than once per month (adjusted odds ratio: 3·72, 95% CI: 1·55- 8·94; p-value: 0·003) was associated with the development of culture-confirmed typhoid. Conclusion: A single dose of TCV is effective against culture confirmed typhoid among children aged 6 months to 15 years old in an XDR typhoid outbreak setting of a peri-urban community in Karachi, Pakistan.acceptedVersionPeer reviewe

Parental acceptance of typhoid conjugate vaccine for children aged 6 months to 15 years in an outbreak setting of Lyari Town Karachi, Pakistan

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the parental acceptance of Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) and to determine the predictors of TCV vaccination status among children in an outbreak setting of extensively drug resistant (XDR) typhoid fever in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional survey using the WHO recommended rapid vaccine coverage assessment technique was conducted. Out of 11, four union councils (UCs) in Lyari Town were randomly selected. A parent or primary caretaker from the eligible household was interviewed. Data were collected using a locally validated vaccine attitudes scale (VAS). Sum of scores was calculated for VAS. A higher score denoted negative attitudes and perceptions regarding TCV and vice versa. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the predictors of TCV vaccination status. Results: Based on the 14-item parental VAS, 78.0 % of the parents had a score between 0 to <40 and 22 % had a score ≥40. VAS score of <40 was significantly associated with higher odds of receiving TCV during the campaign setting (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR): 1.30; 95 % Confidence Interval (CI): 1.02, 1.66). The odds of receiving TCV vaccination were higher among children whose parents were aware of the ongoing vaccination campaign in the area (aOR: 4.57; 95 % CI: 2.93, 7.12) and expressed willingness to get their child vaccinated against typhoid fever (aOR: 2.54; 95 % CI: 1.82, 3.55). Conclusion: Parental awareness of the ongoing vaccination campaign, positive perception and attitudes towards vaccine were found to be significantly associated with TCV vaccination among children. Appropriately structured pre-vaccination awareness campaigns focused on childhood vaccination targeted towards parents are necessary to improve parental awareness, attitude and behavior towards vaccination.Peer reviewe