Mapping of Highly Cited Articles Published in The Journal of Academic Librarianship

The assessment of highly cited papers published in a single journal is an important parameter to appraise the research. The present study aims to analyze the attributes of 100 highly cited papers published in The Journal of Academic Librarianship (JAL). The data of targeted papers was obtained from the Web of Science database on the 2nd Week of February 2022. The highly cited papers were published between 1983 to 2016 and these papers were cited 6,289 times with an average of 628.9 citations per paper. The highest number of cited papers were published in 2008 and the papers published in 2006 gained the highest number of citations. Slightly more than half of the papers were written by a single author pattern but the multi-author pattern papers yielded the higher citation impact. The authors belonged to 18 countries that contributed to the highly cited papers but the maximum number of papers (75%) were contributed by the United States. The keyword analysis was performed to assert the preferred area of research. The findings of the current study help to identify the trends of influential research published in JAL over the last four decades

Effect Of Exogenously Administered Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) On Plasma Concentration Of Nuclear Factor-Kappa B (Nf-Kb) And Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (Icam-1) In A Rat Model Of Renal Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Kajian ini menyelidik kesan pemberian penderma hidrogen sulfida (H2S), sodium hidrosulphida (NaHS) secara eksogenous ke atas kepekatan nuklear faktor kappa-B (NF-kB) dan molekul-1 intersel (ICAM-1) dalam kecederaan iskemia reperfusi ginjal di dalam tikus normotensif Wistar Kyoto (WKY) tanpa kegagalan ginjal (NRF) dan dengan kegagalan ginjal (RF) serta hipertensi aruhan L-nitro-arginin-methil-ester (L-NAME) di dalam tikus tanpa kegagalan ginjal (NRF) dan dengan kegagalan ginjal (NRF) The present study investigated the effect of exogenous administration of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) donor, sodium hydrosulphide (NaHS) on the concentration of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB) and inter cellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in renal ischemia reperfusion injury in normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) non-renal failure (NRF) and renal failure (RF) rats as well as L-nitro-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME) induced hypertensive NRF and RF rats

Assessment of Knowledge and Utilization of Maternal and Neonatal Health services in Public Hospitals of district Dera Ghazi Khan

Abstract: Background: Poor utilization of healthcare services during pregnancy, child delivery, and postpartum is a significant cause of maternal and child mortality. Antenatal and postnatal care is the most effective intervention for maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, especially in areas where women's general health is poor. Objectives: This study was conducted to find out the mother's knowledge about maternal and neonatal services to determine the utilization of maternal and neonatal services in public hospitals of District Dera Ghazi Khan. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a public hospital in Dera Ghazi Khan. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data about the knowledge and utilization of antenatal care services among pregnant women. Results:The findings of the present study showed that 58.4% of respondents have good knowledge of antenatal care, while 41.6% showed poor ability. Among total respondents, 46.32% showed positive utilization of ANC services, while 53.68% showed poor utilization. A statistically significant difference has been found between respondents' income and ANC knowledge (p=0.02). A statistically significant difference was found between respondents' education and ANC knowledge (p=0.01). Among respondents who have their first pregnancy, 45(72.58%) have good ANC service utilization (p=0.002). Among respondents who were satisfied with the ANC services, 81(89.01%) were utilizing early ANC, whereas 10 (10.98%) were utilizing late ANC services (p=0.01). Conclusion:  Overall findings of this research have shown that respondents' knowledge and utilization of ANC were not satisfactory. For more improvement, there is a need to educate women and provide them with adequate facilities to utilize maternal and neonatal care services.  

Biallelic Variants in Seven Different Genes Associated with Clinically Suspected Bardet-Biedl Syndrome

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare clinically and genetically heterogeneous autosomal recessive multi-systemic disorder with 22 known genes. The primary clinical and diagnostic features include six different hallmarks, such as rod-cone dystrophy, learning difficulties, renal abnormalities, male hypogonadism, post-axial polydactyly, and obesity. Here, we report nine consanguineous families and a non-consanguineous family with several affected individuals presenting typical clinical features of BBS. In the present study, 10 BBS Pakistani families were subjected to whole exome sequencing (WES), which revealed novel/recurrent gene variants, including a homozygous nonsense mutation (c.94C>T; p.Gln32Ter) in the IFT27 (NM_006860.5) gene in family A, a homozygous nonsense mutation (c.160A>T; p.Lys54Ter) in the BBIP1 (NM_001195306.1) gene in family B, a homozygous nonsense variant (c.720C>A; p.Cys240Ter) in the WDPCP (NM_015910.7) in family C, a homozygous nonsense variant (c.505A>T; p.Lys169Ter) in the LZTFL1 (NM_020347.4) in family D, pathogenic homozygous 1 bp deletion (c.775delA; p.Thr259Leufs*21) in the MKKS/BBS5 (NM_170784.3) gene in family E, a pathogenic homozygous missense variant (c.1339G>A; p.Ala447Thr) in BBS1 (NM_024649.4) in families F and G, a pathogenic homozygous donor splice site variant (c.951+1G>A; p?) in BBS1 (NM_024649.4) in family H, a pathogenic bi-allelic nonsense variant in MKKS (NM_170784.3) (c.119C>G; p.Ser40*) in family I, and homozygous pathogenic frameshift variants (c.196delA; p.Arg66Glufs*12) in BBS5 (NM_152384.3) in family J. Our findings extend the mutation and phenotypic spectrum of four different types of ciliopathies causing BBS and also support the importance of these genes in the development of multi-systemic human genetic disorders

Erythroid induction activity of Aquilegia fragrans and Aquilegia pubiflora and identification of compounds using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Aquilegia fragrans (AF) and Aquilegia pubiflora (AP) are the two medicinally important species of genus Aquilegia used for the treatment of various diseases and infections. This paper describes the potential of fetal hemoglobin induction activity of the methanolic extracts of AF and AP in K562 cell line. AF and AP have shown 27.147 +/- 1.376 and 32.786 +/- 1.048 percent erythroid induction, respectively at 15.625 (mg/mL) concentration which suggested that both plants can be the source of potential fetal hemoglobin inducers and may be used for the treatment of beta-thalassemia. Phytochemical analyses of both species were also evaluated by using high-resolution LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS techniques. A Total of thirty compounds were identified using positive and negative ionization modes. The identification was based on the matching of high-resolution masses, isotopic pattern, and MS/MS fragmentation. Several statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the distribution of compounds in both species. Identified compounds belong to various classes including flavonoids, steroids, lignans, terpenoids, benzofuran and coumarins. The established chemical fingerprints will be helpful in standardization and quality control of plant extracts

Korzystanie z pasów bezpieczeństwa i czynniki powiązane wśród kierowców i pasażerów na przednim fotelu w metropolii Peszawar, Pakistan: Badanie przekrojowe

INTRODUCTION: Road traffic accidents is a major public health problem with an estimate to become the ninth leading cause of death worldwide. Pakistan yearly spends around 100 billion rupees on injuries and ranks 5th due to the fatality associated with road traffic accidents. Seat-belt use decreases the fatality amongst drivers and front-seat passengers by around 45–50%. Therefore, the current study was aimed to determine seat belt use among drivers and front passengers and its association of demographic factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out from October 2016 to March 2017. The city was categorized into five major geographical areas and from each of these areas two roads were randomly selected from the list of the available roads. Data collection was done in the petrol pumps located on these roads and every fifth vehicle interviewed. Data was collected on an adapted tool with information regarding use of seat-belt and socio-demographic factors. Data was analyzed, using STATA version 13.1. RESULTS: A total of 1690 vehicles were interviewed during the time period. Around one third (35.5%) of the drivers were using seat-belt when approached and none of the front passengers. Around three fourth (72.2%) of the drivers reported avoiding fines and penalties as the main reason for using seat-belts. The main reason reported for not wearing seat-belt was embarrassment and was reported by around half of the drivers (45.6%) and front passenger (42.8%). On logistic regression education, type of vehicle and years of experience were independently associated with seat-belt use. Driving experience and education were negatively associated with seat-belt use while the use was less in private cars compared to taxis. CONCLUSIONS: Seat belt use in drivers of the metropolitan city of Peshawar was quite low and ironically was none in the front passengers. Avoiding fines and penalties was the main reason for seat-belt use which was common in taxis. Policy makers and planners should impose regulations and implementation of seat-belt use by all passengers to reduce the morbidity and mortality following road traffic accidents.WSTĘP: Wypadki drogowe to poważny problem zdrowia publicznego, który według szacunków może stać się dziewiątą główną przyczyną zgonów na świecie. Pakistan rocznie wydaje około 100 miliardów rupii na leczenie obrażeń i zajmuje piąte miejsce z powodu śmiertelnych wypadków drogowych. Korzystanie z pasów bezpieczeństwa zmniejsza śmiertelność wśród kierowców i pasażerów siedzących z przodu o około 45–50%. Dlatego obecne badanie miało na celu określenie użycia pasów bezpieczeństwa wśród kierowców i pasażerów na przednim fotelu oraz powiązanie czynników demograficznych. MATERIAŁ I METODY: Badanie przekrojowe przeprowadzono od października 2016 r. do marca 2017 r. Miasto zostało podzielone na pięć głównych obszarów geograficznych i z każdego z tych obszarów losowo wybrano dwie drogi z listy dostępnych dróg. Zbieranie danych odbywało się w stacjach paliwowych znajdujących się przy tych drogach i przeprowadzaono wywiad w co piątym pojeździe. Dane zebrano na dostosowanym narzędziu z informacjami dotyczącymi stosowania pasów bezpieczeństwa i czynników społeczno-demograficznych. Dane zostały przeanalizowane przy użyciu STATA w wersji 13.1. WYNIKI: W czasie badania przeprowadzono wywiad z 1690 użytkownikami pojazdów. Około jedna trzecia (35,5%) kierowców korzystała z pasów bezpieczeństwa, ale żaden z pasażerów na przednim fotelu. Około trzy czwarte (72,2%) kierowców wskazało na unikanie kar jako główny powód używania pasów bezpieczeństwa. Głównym powodem, dla którego zgłaszano brak zapinania pasów bezpieczeństwa, było zażenowanie i zgłosiło je około połowa kierowców (45,6%) i pasażerowie z przodu (42,8%). W edukacji regresji logistycznej rodzaj pojazdu i lata doświadczenia były niezależnie związane z używaniem pasów bezpieczeństwa. Doświadczenie w prowadzeniu pojazdu i edukacja były negatywnie związane z używaniem pasów bezpieczeństwa, podczas gdy korzystanie z nich było mniejsze w samochodach prywatnych w porównaniu do taksówek. WNIOSKI: Używanie pasów bezpieczeństwa przez kierowców metropolii Peszawar było dość niskie i, jak na ironię, żaden z pasażerów nie korzystał z pasów. Unikanie grzywien i kar było głównym powodem używania pasów bezpieczeństwa, który był powszechny w taksówkach. Decydenci i planiści powinni narzucić przepisy i wdrażać stosowanie pasów bezpieczeństwa przez wszystkich pasażerów, aby zmniejszyć zachorowalność i śmiertelność w wyniku wypadków drogowych

Implementing smokeless tobacco control policy in Pakistan: a qualitative study among Naswar supply chain actors

Ahmad F, Böckmann M, Khan Z, et al. Implementing smokeless tobacco control policy in Pakistan: a qualitative study among Naswar supply chain actors. TOBACCO CONTROL. 2021;30(5):548-552.Objective To obtain insights into the perceptions of barriers and facilitators to implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) among smokeless tobacco (SLT) supply chain actors in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Methods We conducted a qualitative study to investigate the perceptions about SLT control policy formulation and implementation among exclusive Naswar sellers and point of sale vendors. We conducted five focus group discussions in three districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa using combined deductive-inductive thematic analyses. Results We identified three central themes that potentially impact policy formulation, its implementation and application. The first theme examines the role of children in the Naswar business: as potential customers, and as potential heirs to a Naswar-selling business. A second theme targets the 'business of Naswar', which includes a specific identity of Naswar sellers, its potential to generate profits and the special case of Naswar regulation as a socially accepted and culturally rooted product. The third theme addresses the unusual ingredients of Naswar and its production process, making Naswar a health risk for consumers and producers. We also report conflicting views regarding SLT control among the supply chain actors. Conclusions This study provides insights into the perceptions of important SLT supply-side stakeholders regarding various SLT control policy options based on the FCTC. While there is some opposition to policy approaches like taxation and switching of business, implementing a ban on selling SLT to minors may be a viable option for policymakers in the short term