Punjab Region Of Pakistan Research Articles

Causes of deafness in the Punjab region of Pakistan and the role of consanguinity

• Punjab is a mixture of diverse ethnicities with unique familial and social characteristics.

Exploring the relationship of horizontal violence, organizational cynicism and turnover intention in the context of social exchange theory

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship of horizontal violence, organizational cynicism and turnover intention in the nursing profession.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative approach was utilized and 870 questionnaires were distributed to collect data from nursing staff working in Punjab region of Pakistan by using non-probability multistage sampling technique. A total of 711 questionnaires were returned, out of which, 668 questionnaires were scrutinized. Additionally, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were applied to analyze the data.FindingsThe results revealed an insignificant mediating effect of organizational cynicism between the relationship of horizontal violence and turnover intention.Research limitations/implicationsThe current study has adopted a multistage non-probability sampling technique to collect data because the management of hospitals restricted researcher access to personal information about the nurses. Therefore, at the first stage, the researcher used convenience sampling and at the second stage, the researcher utilized quota sampling to collect the data. Moreover, the findings of the current study are based on cross-sectional data because of the limited time and resources.Practical implicationsThe current study fosters the ongoing debate in organizational studies related to cynicism, and it is noteworthy for the nursing managers to understand the significant factors which directly or indirectly affect the nursing attitude.Originality/valueThe current study explored the mediating role of organizational cynicism between horizontal violence and turnover intention to fill the research gap.

Modelling Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies for Sunflower in Pakistan

Climate change, food security, water scarcity and environmental sustainability have all become major global challenges. As a consequence, improving resource use efficiency is an important aspect of increasing crop productivity. Crop models are increasingly being used as tools for supporting strategic and tactical decision making under varying agro-climatic and socioeconomic conditions. These tools can also support climate change assessment and the evaluation of adaptation strategies to limit the adverse impacts of climate change. In this paper, the authors report on a case study conducted to assess the potential impact of climate change on grain yield in sunflower under arid, semi-arid and subhumid conditions in the Punjab region of Pakistan. Experimental data obtained between 2008 and 2009 were used for model evaluation. The study focused on the impacts of incremental temperature change on sunflower production. The modelling suggests that grain yield could reduce by up to 15% by the 2020s with an average increase in temperature of +1°C, and by up to 25% if temperatures increased by up to 2°C for the 2050s. Adaptation strategies showed that, if the crop were sown between 14 days (for 2020) and 21 days (for 2050) earlier than the current date (last week in February), yield losses could potentially be reduced.

Introduction and evolution of dengue virus type 2 in Pakistan: a phylogeographic analysis.

BackgroundPattern of Dengue periodic epidemics through the years along with sporadic cases of Dengue hemorrhagic fever followed by a severe 2011 epidemic of Dengue fever in Pakistan make Pakistan a Dengue endemic country. To study the entry and evolution of dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV-2) in Pakistan, we sequenced three full length genomes and 24 complete envelope sequences of DENV-2 from the years 2010, 2011 and 2013 collected from Punjab province of Pakistan.MethodsPhylogenetic and Bayesian phylogeographic analyses was applied to three full genome sequences as well as 24 envelope sequences to study the spatiotemporal dynamics of DENV-2 in Pakistan.ResultsMost of the DENV-2 viruses from the years 2008 to 2013 formed a monophyletic Pakistani clade in IVb sublineage of cosmopolitan genotype except one 2008 DENV-2 strain. Phylogeographic analysis revealed that this 2008 DENV-2 strain was rooted to India 25.4 years ago with a location probability of 0.88. However Pakistani clade rooted back to Sri Lanka 12.6 years ago with a location probability of 0.57.ConclusionDENV-2 genotype IV was introduced in Pakistan in two time events. First event was introduction from India to Pakistan in the late 1980s (around 1986), and second event was introduction from Sri Lanka to Pakistan around 2000. The later introduction event was responsible for major outbreaks in the Punjab region of Pakistan, including major 2011 outbreak. After the second Introduction event, DENV-2 circulated locally in the region forming a distinct Sublineage within the IVb cosmopolitan genotype of DENV-2.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12985-015-0371-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Riverine Flood Damage Assessment of Cultivated Lands along Chenab River Using GIS and Remotely Sensed Data: A Case Study of District Hafizabad, Punjab, Pakistan

Flood is one of a kind of disasters which harms human and animal life around the globe. Pakistan has been observing massive floods for many years because of daily and seasonal variation in the temperature levels. Wheat, rice, sugarcane and cotton are major crops cultivated in Punjab region of Pakistan in which rice and sugarcane are mostly effected by floods. In this research paper, damage assessment of cultivated land in district Hafizabad along Chenab River has been calculated. Supervised Classification and Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) methods are applied. Pre-flood 2014, post-flood 2014, and pre-flood 2015 Landsat 8 images have been used to calculate the extent of damages to cultivated lands. Water, sand, silt, bare soil and vegetation are classified to identify damage. Results show that vegetation cover has plummeted to 50% after the arrival of flood 2014 in the Chenab. Similarly, 6.7047% of sand and 15.7339% of bare soil deposits have surfaced which have not yet been removed from fertile lands in 2015. 18.4376% standing crop damage has been analyzed under this study. 14.0245% silt deposits have been calculated as post-flood effects. 46.4260% land has been cultivated in 2015 which is 15.5024% lower than 2014 cultivated land. Furthermore, field verification survey has given promising results and has a great correlation with satellite based recovery results.

Carrier Frequency of Congenital Leptin Deficiency in Central Punjab Region of Pakistan

Congenital leptin deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, characterized by hyperphagia and early onset obesity. Worldwide data on this disorder includes only 25 cases out of this only six pathogenic mutations have been reported in the leptin gene. Most of these cases have been reported in Central Punjab region of Pakistan, harboring a (p.Gly133fsX145) mutation in homozygous state. This mutation has founder effect in Arain caste from Central Punjab region of Pakistan. In this study, carrier frequency of (p.Gly133fsX145) mutation was determined in 50 individuals belonging to Arain caste. Analysis of amplicons contains p.Gly133fsX145 mutation were analyzed by different techniques such as SSCP, Heteroduplex analysis and sequencing. Mutation was not found in any individual studied. This finding suggests that frequency of (p.Gly133fsX145) mutation in Arain caste is not as higher as its predicted founder effect in congenitally obese children of this caste was anticipated.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Transmission and Vaccine Efficacy in Punjab, Pakistan

Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Transmission and Vaccine Efficacy in Punjab, Pakistan Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an acute disease due to the infection with a Picorna virus that causes vesicular lesions in cloven-hoofed animals. The objectives of this study were to estimate the adequate daily contact rate (k), the mean number of daily contacts by an individual adequate for virus transmission of FMD, and the efficacy of FMD vaccines (VE) used in selected districts of the Punjab region of Pakistan.

Economical and environmental implications of solid waste compost applications to agricultural fields in Punjab, Pakistan

Application of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) to agricultural soils is becoming an increasingly important global practice to enhance and sustain soil organic matter (SOM) and fertility levels. Potential risks associated with heavy metals and phosphorus accumulations in surface soils may be minimized with integrated nutrient management strategies that utilize MSWC together with mineral fertilizers. To explore the economic feasibility of MSWC applications, nutrient management plans were developed for rice-wheat and cotton-wheat cropping systems within the Punjab region of Pakistan. Three-year field trials were conducted to measure yields and to determine the economic benefits using three management strategies and two nutrient doses. Management strategies included the application of mineral fertilizers as the sole nutrient source and application of mineral fertilizers in combination with MSWC with and without pesticide/herbicide treatments. Fertilizer doses were either based on standard N, P and K recommendations or on measured site-specific soil plant available phosphorus (PAP) levels. It was found that combining MSWC and mineral fertilizer applications based on site-specific PAP levels with the use of pesticides and herbicides is an economically and environmentally viable management strategy. Results show that incorporation of MSWC improved soil physical properties such as bulk density and penetration resistance. The PAP levels in the surface layer increased by the end of the trials relative to the initial status. No potential risks of heavy metal (Zn, Cd, Cr, Pb and Ni) accumulation were observed. Treatments comprised of MSWC and mineral fertilizer adjusted to site-specific PAP levels and with common pest management showed highest cumulative yields. A basic economic analysis revealed a significantly higher cumulative net profit and value-to-cost ratio (VCR) for all site-specific doses.

Management of the Umbilical Cord

After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe the most serious infection that may result from inappropriate management of the umbilical cord and potential sources. 2. Describe the relationship between infant bacterial colonization and postpartum infection. 3. List the most common neonatal staphylococcal infections. 4. List the factors that affect the timing of cord separation. 5. Delineate the probable causes of drainage from the umbilical stump. This review addresses several aspects of the care of the umbilical cord: how to ligate and cut it, what (if anything) to apply to it, the problems that may be associated with ligation and cutting, and the natural history of cord separation. The traditional method of ligating the umbilical cord was to use string or twine to tie the cord before cutting it. In Southern Sudan, fine stringlike roots are used to tie the cord. More recently in the United States, special cotton tape (umbilical tape) was used and still is found on most trays used for insertion of catheters into umbilical blood vessels. Because the umbilical cord tends to shrink after birth, these types of ligature proved somewhat unreliable in preventing hemorrhage. Although the umbilical arteries tend to constrict rapidly after birth because of the muscular walls, this does not occur with the umbilical vein. Consequently, more efficient and effective methods of ligation were sought in the middle of the 20th century. The first method was to use constricting rubber bands, which were effective, but somewhat difficult to apply. This method recently found favor in a developing country (Ethiopia). However, the more usual method in developed countries currently is plastic or metal clamps, which produce safe, reliable constriction. In particular, the plastic Hollister® clamp (Double-Grip Umbilical Cord Clamp, Hollister, Libertyville, IL) has been very successful in preventing bleeding from the cord. These devices are removed …

Regarding “Seroprevalence of the Antibody to Hepatitis C in Select Groups in the Punjab Region of Pakistan”

Luby, Stephen M.D.; Khan, Aamir Javed M.B.B.S.; Altaf, Arshad M.B.B.S.; Hutin, Yvan M.D., M.SC. Author Information

Seroprevalence of the antibody to hepatitis C in select groups in the Punjab region of Pakistan.

Hepatitis C is on the rise in clinics in Pakistan. To estimate the occurrence of hepatitis C in the region and to create awareness about the disease in the general public, two studies were conducted in Punjab, Pakistan. Before this, no such effort has been made in Pakistan. Two studies were held in Lahore and Gujranwala of Punjab, Pakistan. These studies were advertised throughout the city, and people who participated were screened for anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV)-positive serology at a concession rate and were surveyed through a questionnaire. In Lahore, there were 488 participants (mean age, 28 years; male-to-female ratio, 1.4 to 1). In Gujranwala, there were 1,922 participants (mean age, 27 years; male-to-female ratio, 1.5 to 1). The patients' blood was tested using an immuno-chromatography to identify the antibody to hepatitis C using Instatest HCV, with very high sensitivity. In Lahore, the occurrence of anti-HCV-positive serology was 15.9%. In Gujranwala, the occurrence of anti-HCV-positive serology was 23.8%. In Lahore, the occurrence was 1.2% in participants 20 years of age and younger and was 23.5% in those who were more than 20 years of age. In Gujranwala, the occurrence of anti-HCV-positive serology was 5.4% in participants 20 years of age and younger and was 34% in those who were more than 20 years of age. It can be seen that in those younger than 20 years of age, the occurrence of hepatitis C is almost at par with the rest of the world (0.5-2%). However, those more than 20 years of age had a very high occurrence, as high as 50% in certain age groups. The time-frame of contraction of the HCV for those individuals more than 20 years of age (approximately 20 to 35 years ago) corresponds with that of the smallpox eradication program conducted in Pakistan from 1964 to 1982. This may indicate the likelihood of a relationship between the high rate of hepatitis C and the administration of the smallpox vaccine in Pakistan.

Soil salinity, a major constraint to irrigated agriculture in the Punjab region of Pakistan: Contributing factors and strategies for amelioration

AbstractSalinity is widely perceived to have severe effects on farmers in Pakistan. However, to date there is little direct evidence on how salinity specifically affects farm operations and the patterns of agricultural activity, and how farmers seek to overcome the effects of salinity. The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of the causes of soil salinity and to consider possible remedial actions whereby farmers might reduce its adverse effects. Correlation analysis was used to determine whether farmers responded to soil salinity in identifiable patterns of socioeconomic activity and behavior. Throughout these analyses, it was assumed that salinity was the primary force driving the farming systems. Soil salinity was found to pose real constraints to agricultural productivity and the economic livelihoods of Pakistani farmers. With few notable exceptions, no discernible patterns in responses to soil salinity have emerged. Aside from the more traditional and costly methods for dealing with the problem, no new technologies to combat soil salinity have been widely disseminated, due to socioeconomic limitations of most farmers and general lack of awareness. Yet, the data indicate that in order to increase agricultural productivity, alternative technologies are needed, such as trees and shrubs to lower the water table, more effective water management to prevent waterlogging, and salt-tolerant and -resistant strains of edible crops. Without these measures, it is likely the situation will worsen in the coming years.

Denitrification and total fertilizer-N losses from an irrigated cotton field

In a 2-year field study, denitrification loss was measured from an irrigated sandy-clay loam under cotton receiving urea-N at 158–173 kg ha–1. An acetylene inhibition-soil core method was employed for the direct measurement of denitrification, considering also the N2O entrapped in the soil. Taking into account the N2O evolved from soil cores and that entrapped in the soil, a total of 65.7 kg N ha–1 and 64.4 kg N ha–1 was lost due to denitrification during the 1995 and 1996 cotton-growing seasons, respectively. Most (>70%) of the denitrification loss occurred during June–August, a period characterized by high soil temperatures and heavy monsoon rains. On average, 35% of the denitrification-N2O was found entrapped in the soil and the amount of entrapped N2O was significantly correlated with head space N2O concentration and with water-filled pore space. 15N-balance during the 1996 growing season revealed a loss of 71.8 kg N ha–1. It was concluded that a substantial proportion of the fertilizer-N applied to irrigated cotton is lost under the semiarid subtropical climatic conditions prevailing in the Central Punjab region of Pakistan and that denitrification is the major N loss process under irrigated cotton in this region.

Parasite density and malaria morbidity in the Pakistani Punjab.

The relationship between quantitative Plasmodiumfalciparum or P. vivax parasitemia and clinical illness has not been defined in Pakistan or in other areas where malaria transmission is not highly endemic. Standardized questionnaires were given to and physical examinations and parasitologic tests were performed in 8,941 subjects seen in outpatient clinics in 4 villages for 13 consecutive months in the Punjab region of Pakistan. The results, based on multivariable analysis, showed that a clinical diagnosis of malaria, a history of fever, rigors, headache, myalgia, elevated temperature, and a palpable spleen among children were all strongly associated with the presence and density of P. falciparum or P. vivax malaria in a monotonic dose-response fashion. The malaria attributable fraction of a clinical diagnosis of malaria, and the same symptoms and signs also increased with increasing P. falciparum and, to a lesser extent, P. vivax, parasitemia. Unlike in sub-Saharan Africa, clinical illness due to malaria often occurs in the Punjab among adolescents and adults and in patients with parasite densities less than 1,000/microl. Clinical guidelines based upon parasitemia and symptomatology must be adjusted according to the intensity of transmission and be specific for each geographic area.

Sathrobota (Pyroderces) simplexWalsingham (Lepidoptera:Cosmopterygidae): A secondary pest of cotton in Pakistan

Abstract The False Pink Bollworm, Sathrobota (Pyroderces) simplex (Walsingham), was observed infesting open cotton bolls during the 1987/88 cotton growing season in the Punjab region of Pakistan. The larvae were, at that time, incorrectly identified as Pink Bollworm (PBW), Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders). Their presence caused concern, as the area of infestation occurred in a field of cotton which had been treated with pheromone (gossyplure) to control infestation by P. gossypiella. Subsequently identification of the adults in the UK revealed that the majority of the infested bolls contained S. simplex and this was confirmed in trials conducted in the same area during the 1988/89 cotton growing season. This is the first record of S. simplex in Pakistan. The importance of S. simplex as a pest of cotton, and the evaluation of a pheromone formulation for monitoring adult populations, is described. Its significance as a pest of cotton is discussed.

Multisystem disorder of Punjabi children exhibiting spontaneous dermal and submucosal granulation tissue formation

We describe a multisystem disease that affects children of Muslim families originating in the Punjab region of Pakistan and India. An altered cry due to vocal cord thickening, skin ulceration, nail abnormalities, and conjunctival scarring appear in the first few months of life. Progression and spread of the disease in these sites may be accompanied by involvement of other epithelial surfaces. The teeth may exhibit defective enamel formation. Histology reveals the formation of simple granulation tissue arising in the dermis and submucosa which become massively thickened and ulcerated. There is good evidence for an autosomal recessive gene defect, but the actual mechanism of the disease is not known. Medical and surgical therapy have been ineffective in altering the course of this devastating and usually fatal condition. We suggest the term LOGIC (laryngeal and ocular granulation tissue in children from the Indian subcontinent) for this newly established disease.

Laboratory Host Range Tests with Hydrellia pakistanae (Diptera: Ephydridae), an Agent for Biological Control of Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae)

Hydrellia pakistanae Deonier, a leaf-mining ephydrid fly, has been reported only from hydrilla, Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle, in the Punjab region of Pakistan and Karnataka State in southern India. Host range studies were conducted in a quarantine laboratory in Florida with a fly colony from India. Females tested on 29 plant species in choice tests oviposited on all, but preferred hydrilla. Fifty-one plant species were included in larval no-choice tests, resulting in small numbers of adults being produced on six species. Curly leaf pondweed, Potamogeton crispus L., an associate of hydrilla in Asia and an introduced weed in the United States, produced the most adults. No more than 4% of the larvae developed to adults on two native pondweeds, and none developed on four others. Only 4% of the larvae developed to adults on P. crispus when hydrilla was present in choice tests. A dramatically declining fly population was maintained on P. crispus until the seventh generation, when it died out. These studies indicated that H. pakistanae was safe to release in the United States for biological control of hydrilla.

Azospirillum halopraeferens sp. nov., a Nitrogen-Fixing Organism Associated with Roots of Kallar Grass (Leptochloa fusca (L.) Kunth)

Among the nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated with the roots of Leptochloa fusca (L.) Kunth in salt-affected soils in the Punjab region of Pakistan, we found a homogeneous group of eight diazotrophs. Cells are vibrioid to S shaped, are motile by one polar flagellum, and produce granules of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate. They have a respiratory type of metabolism, show microaerophilic growth when fixing nitrogen, grow well on salts of organic acids, and can also use fructose and mannitol. On nitrogen-free semisolid media, they require biotin, utilize mannitol, but not glucose or sucrose, and cannot acidify glucose aerobically or anaerobically. Optimal growth occurs at 0.25% NaCl and 41°C. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) hybridizations show that the organisms belong to the Azospirillum rRNA branch, where they cluster together with Azospirillum amazonense. They form a phenotypically and protein electrophoretically homogeneous group of bacteria, clearly distinct from Azospirillum amazonense, Azospirillum lipoferum, and Azospirillum brasilense. As no DNA-DNA binding was found with any of the three Azospirillum species, we propose a fourth Azospirillum species for this group of isolates. Because of better growth at increased NaCl concentrations, we named the new species Azospirillum halopraeferens. Strain Au 4 (= LMG 7108) is the type strain, which has been deposited at the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen, Gottingen, Federal Republic of Germany, as DSM 3675.