Sites In Karachi Research Articles

Suitable site analysis for microalgae biofuel production as a source of renewable energy

The global demand for renewable energy sources has been increasing. Microalgae is considered one of the best energy sources among renewable options, as it efficiently produces biofuel on a large scale. Pakistan has advantageous conditions for cultivating microalgae as a biofuel source, including abundant sunlight, favorable climate conditions, ample land and water resources. This research aims to identify suitable sites in Karachi for microalgae cultivation using geographic information systems. The potential sites were classified into four categories: highly suitable, moderately suitable, less suitable, and unfavorable. The study shows that Karachi provides an environment conducive to large-scale microalgae cultivation, which could help to alleviate energy shortages. Moreover, identifying viable cultivation locations can attract domestic and international interest, leading to future developments in the field.

Cohort profile: the Pregnancy Risk Infant Surveillance and Measurement Alliance (PRISMA) – Pakistan

PurposePakistan has disproportionately high maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. There is a lack of detailed, population-representative data to provide evidence for risk factors, morbidities and mortality among pregnant women...

Risk Assessment for Cardiovascular Disease Using the Framingham Risk Score and Globorisk Score Among Newly Diagnosed Metabolic Syndrome Patients.

The presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) development. In this study, CVD risk was calculated among individuals with newly diagnosed MetS using the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and Globorisk Score. The FRS and Globorisk score are particularly relevant in predicting CVD risk as these scores include key MetS-related risk factors like blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and age. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted at various sites in Karachi, Pakistan, from February 2022 to August 2022. Newly diagnosed cases of MetS with no physical disability, known illness, and not taking any regular medication were recruited. MetS was defined based on the definition of International Diabetes Federation. The major outcome was 10-year risk for CVD using the FRS and Globorisk Score. Of 304 patients, 59.2% were classified as low risk according to FRS, while 20.4% were classified as moderate and high risk each. Using the Globorisk score, 44.6% of 224 patients were classified as low risk, 34.4% as moderate risk, and 21.0% as high risk. A moderate positive correlation was observed between the two CVD risk scores (r = 0.651, 95% CI 0.58-0.71). Both risk scores have reported age, gender, and current smokers as significant risk factors in predicting CVD in 10-years (P < 0.05). The outcome of both CVD risk scores predicted moderate-to-high risk of CVD in 10-years in almost half of the newly diagnosed patients with MetS. In particular, the risk of development of CVD in 10-years in newly diagnosed MetS is higher with increasing age, in male gender, and current smokers.

Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication - Pakistan, January 2022-June 2023.

Since the establishment of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, Pakistan remains one of only two countries (along with Afghanistan) with continued endemic transmission of wild poliovirus (WPV). This report describes Pakistan's progress toward polio eradication during January 2022-June 2023. During 2022, Pakistan reported 20 WPV type 1 (WPV1) cases, all of which occurred within a small geographic area encompassing three districts in south Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As of June 23, only a single WPV1 case from Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has been reported in 2023, compared with 13 cases during the same period in 2022. In addition, 11 WPV1 isolates have been reported from various environmental surveillance (ES) sewage sampling sites to date in 2023, including in Karachi, the capital of the southern province of Sindh. Substantial gaps remain in the quality of supplementary immunization activities (SIAs), especially in poliovirus reservoir areas. Despite the attenuation and apparently limited geographic scope of poliovirus circulation in Pakistan, the isolation of WPV1 from an ES site in Karachi is cause for concern about the actual geographic limits of transmission. Interrupting WPV1 transmission will require meticulous tracking and sustained innovative efforts to vaccinate children who are regularly missed during SIAs and rapidly responding to any new WPV1 isolations.

Adaptive Control of Streetlights Using Deep Learning for the Optimization of Energy Consumption during Late Hours

This paper presents an adaptive control scheme for streetlights by optimizing the energy consumed using deep learning during late hours at night. A city’s infrastructure is not complete without a proper lightening system for streets and roads. The streetlight systems often consume up to 50% of the electricity utilized by the city. Due to this reason, it has a huge financial impact on the electricity generation of the city. Furthermore, continuous luminosity of the streetlights contributes to the environmental pollution as well. Economists and ecologists around the globe are working hard to reduce the global impact of continued utilization of streetlights at night. In regard to a developing country which is already struggling to produce enough electrical energy to fulfill its industry requirements, proposing a system to lessen the load of the energy utilization by the streetlights should be beneficial. Therefore, an innovative and novel energy efficient streetlight control system is presented based on embedded video processing. The proposed system uses deep learning for the optimization of energy consumption during the later hours. Conventional street lighting systems consume enormous amounts of electricity, even when there is no need for the light, i.e., during off-peak hours and late at night when there is reduced or no traffic on the roads. The proposed system was designed, and implemented and tested at two different sites in Karachi, Pakistan. The system is capable of detecting vehicles and pedestrians and is able to track their movements. The YOLOv5 deep-learning based algorithm was trained according to the local requirements and implemented on the NVIDIA standalone multimedia processing unit “Jetson Nano”. The output of the YOLOv5 is then used to control the intensity of the streetlights through intensity control unit. This intensity control unit also considers the area, object and time for the switching of streetlights. The experimental results are promising, and the proposed system significantly reduces the energy consumption of streetlights.

Municipal Solid Waste Management through Sustainable Landfilling: In View of the Situation in Karachi, Pakistan.

Open disposal is the most common technique used for municipal solid waste (MSW) management due to the absence of sanitary landfills in Pakistan. The major cities and small towns in Pakistan have become a showcase of negligence and mismanagement of MSW, which results in deterioration of the environmental and social-life quality. Moreover, research has proved that inefficient handling (disposal) of MSW results in uncontrolled emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), mainly methane, and adds a significant share in global climate change. This study aims to estimate methane emissions from MSW disposed of at dumpsites and compare the GHG mitigation potential of different landfill strategies in specific climate and waste compositions in Karachi. The GHG estimations are based on lab-scale investigations conducted by simulating landfill conditions through the landfill simulation reactor (LSR) experiment. The synthetic MSW sample representing the composition of MSW generated in Karachi was used in the LSR experiment. Environmental sustainability and GHG mitigation potential of different landfilling strategies was evaluated by analyzing gas formation potential (GP21) and respiration activity (RI4) at the end of the experiment. This study revealed that the quantity of solid waste annually disposed of at dumpsites in Karachi possesses the potential to release about 3.9 Mt CO2-eq. methane (with specific methane potential of 1.8 tCO2-eq./tonne DM disposed) due to the biological decomposition of the organic fraction. Results show that the fresh waste disposed of at landfill sites in Karachi possesses about 92% and 94% higher GP21 and RI4, respectively, than the German allocated criteria for mechanically and biologically treated (MBT) waste for landfills Furthermore, sanitary landfills with post-aeration conditions showed higher GHG mitigation potential and low biological activity in the waste. The second highest GHG mitigation potential and lowest biological activity of the waste was noticed from bioreactor landfills with post-aeration conditions. The third number in GHG mitigation and reduced waste activity was noticed in the waste sampled from bioreactors without aftercare approach. The least GHG mitigation potential was noticed from the uncontrolled waste dumping (existing) approach with high residual gas potential and respiration index level. This lab-scale landfill simulation study can provide baseline data for further research and planning the development of new sustainable landfills in Karachi, Pakistan and in the region.

Health workers' experience of a digital health intervention implemented in peri-urban communities in Karachi, Pakistan.

ObjectiveDigital health interventions (DHIs) have the potential to improve access and quality of care in low-middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability, usability and aesthetics of a DHI by frontline workers in peri-urban community settings in Karachi, Pakistan.MethodsA mixed-methods study was carried out in peri-urban field sites in Karachi, Pakistan, where maternal and childcare services are provided through front-line care providers using a DHI. These workers include community health workers, midwives, and physicians who were using the DHI for at least six months. For quantitative data, a questionnaire regarding the module design and interface, technical difficulty, and appropriate utilisation was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. For qualitative data, focus group discussions (FGDs) based on experiences regarding operability, design, its effect on work efficiency and the provision of beneficial health services were conducted.ResultsThere were 93 respondents for the quantitative questionnaire who reported high satisfaction (>85%) with the DHI in many themes including content quality, aesthetics and ease of use. Participants were least satisfied with service quality (45% satisfaction only) due to issues related to data sync and network connections in these areas. During the FGDs, the workers stated that the DHI helped them with accessing previous data and providing quality health care services to the community.ConclusionAlthough frontline workers reported a few technical difficulties while using the DHI, the majority reported that it was acceptable, had user-friendly features and was beneficial in their work processes.

Molecular Detection of Adenovirus in Tap Water from Coastal Areas Of Karachi Pakistan:The Real-Time PCR Assay

Abstract Introduction/Objective Diarrhea is a major source of morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries. In underdeveloped countries, diseases caused by viruses identified in environmental samples cause major health problems. Little knowledge about the frequency and pattern of viral contamination of drinking water sources in these resource-poor settings. Adenovirus which causes watery diarrhea, particular has been recognized as important causal pathogen. Adenovirus remains a global threat to public health and an indicator of inequity and lack of social development. Tap water samples from coastal sites in Karachi between 2019 and 2020 over a period of 11 months. The total of 40 tap water sample was examined for infectious Adenovirus by a real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Methods/Case Report This Pilot study is conducted on tap water samples from Karachi Pakistan, n=40 are processed. Extraction of nucleic acid from all filtered water samples collected with Sterivex filter units by using Qiagen DNeasy Power Water Sterivex Kit. As per the manufacturer’s instruction. Phocine herpesvirus(PhHV) is added as an external positive control to monitor the efficiency of nucleic acid extraction and amplification. TaqMan Universal PCR Master Mix (Thermo Fisher Scientific) is being used in probe based real time PCR assay,the below 35 Ct value is considered as a positive sample. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) Results showed the total of 37.7% of the sources were positive for adenovirus.The level of viral contamination was moderate to high. Conclusion The results has been showed that no seasonal pattern for viral contaminations was found after samples obtained during the dry and wet seasons were compared. Further the Real time PCR assay increases the sensitivity and provides the high resolution of pathogen detection.

Mid-Upper Arm Circumference Assessment and Comparison With Weight for Length Z-Score in Infants ≤6 Months as an Indicator of Severe Acute Malnutrition.

ObjectiveTo assess the frequency of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and to determine the validity of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) as compared to weight for length z-score (WLZ-score) as an indicator of the nutritional status in this age group.MethodsA cross-sectional study, with a purposive sampling was conducted from March 2018 to November 2018 to enroll 540 infants ≤6 months of age from three different sites in Karachi, Pakistan. The anthropometric measurements (MUAC, length and weight) were taken by experienced community health workers. The data were analyzed using SPSS. MUAC was compared with WLZ-score for sensitivity and specificity to observe the concordant among the two diagnostic measures. The Youden Index was used to determine the ideal cut-off for infants less than 6 months of age in this population and the Kappa coefficient was also calculated to assess the agreement between MUAC and WLZ-score.ResultsThe study findings revealed that SAM was found in 13.6% (n=74) of the children. MUAC cut-off ≤11.5 cm yielded the Youden Index of 0.31 with 59.5% sensitivity and 71.4% specificity. The total area under receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.70 (95% CI: 0.63, 0.77; P < 0.001). The degree of agreement between mid-upper arm circumference and weight for length z-score to diagnose SAM ranged from 0.2 to 0.3.ConclusionThe Youden index implied that a MUAC cut-off of ≤11.5 cm can be used as an indicator with acceptable validity for diagnosing SAM in children ≤6 months of age in a low middle income developing country like Pakistan.

Hearing the unheard voice-puberty experiences of young Pakistani men: A qualitative study

IntroductionPuberty experiences of male adolescents can have significant impacts on physical and psychological health outcomes. This qualitative study explored the puberty experiences of young males in Pakistan, as there are limited accounts of what shapes these puberty experiences, especially for adolescent males living in a restrictive culture. MethodsTwenty-two young Pakistani men (aged 18–21 years) from two urban sites in Karachi participated in individual face-to-face (n=19) and Skype (n=3) interviews. Qualitative thematic analysis was conducted using an inductive approach to identity and examine the patterns emerging from the data. ResultsParticipants described puberty as a challenging phase for which they were unprepared with a combination of various socio-cultural factors exposing them to negative impacts. As a result, young men expressed feelings of anxiety, embarrassment and isolation. Societal and gender norms around masculinity, sexuality and the roles and responsibilities of young men had a significant impact on how participants experienced puberty. While negative reactions towards puberty were dominant, participants described adopting coping strategies (e.g. social support) to help them deal with negative experiences. ConclusionsFindings highlight the significance of culturally appropriate puberty education and various facilitating factors that may improve the puberty experiences for future young men. While extending current literature, this study also identifies key factors that could inform the development of health promotion programmes, which may aid adolescent males’ puberty transition and positively influence their long-term health, well-being and identity.

Environmental Sustainability Enhancement of Waste Disposal Sites in Developing Countries through Controlling Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Sustainable management of municipal solid waste is one of the major challenges for authorities in developing countries. Current waste disposal methods in Pakistan and other developing countries are not meeting standards of any proper waste management system opted for in the developed world. This mismanagement of waste is leading to serious environmental problems at local as well as global levels. This study aims to investigate the methane emissions from waste dumpsites in the city of Karachi, Pakistan, and to propose an effective approach to enhance their environmental sustainability. The methane emissions from waste disposal sites were assessed by simulating four different landfill situations during the landfill simulation reactor experiment. The residual methane reduction potential of each waste disposal approach was assessed by a biochemical methane test of waste after the experiment. It is estimated that in the present situation, about 11,500 tons of CO2-eq methane is released annually from waste disposal sites in Karachi. The convectional anaerobic landfill with methane capturing facilities and post-aeration operation was found to be the most environmentally sustainable approach with controlling 65% of residual methane emissions in comparison with the present scenario. For the development of new landfill sites, we recommend the bioreactor landfill approach with methane recovery and post-care (in-situ aeration).

Ethnic disparity and exposure to supplements rather than adverse childhood experiences linked to preterm birth in Pakistani women

BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with prenatal mental health and negative pregnancy outcomes in high income countries, but whether the same association exists in Pakistan, a low- to middle-income (LMI) country, remains unclear. MethodsSecondary data analyses of a prospective longitudinal cohort study examining biopsychosocial measures of 300 pregnant women at four sites in Karachi, Pakistan. A predictive multiple logistic regression model for preterm birth (PTB; i.e., <37 weeks’ gestation) was developed from variables significantly (P < 0.05) or marginally (P < 0.10) associated with PTB in the bivariate analyses. ResultsOf the 300 women, 263 (88%) returned for delivery and were included in the current analyses. The PTB rate was 11.1%. We found no association between ACE and PTB. Mother's education (P = 0.011), mother's ethnicity (P = 0.010), medications during pregnancy (P = 0.006), age at birth of first child or current age if primiparous (P = 0.049) and age at marriage (P = 0.091) emerged as significant in bivariate analyses. Mother's ethnicity and taking medications remained predictive of PTB in the multivariate model. LimitationsFindings are limited by the relatively small sample size which precludes direct testing for possible interactive effects. ConclusionsIn sum, pathways to PTB for women in LMI countries may differ from those observed in high-income countries and may need to be modelled differently to include behavioural response to emotional distress and socio-cultural contexts.

Personalized Text Messages and Automated Calls for Improving Vaccine Coverage Among Children in Pakistan: Protocol for a Community-Based Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

BackgroundA major reason for poor childhood vaccine coverage in developing countries is the lack of awareness among parents and caregivers regarding the need for immunization and the importance of completing the entire series of vaccines. Short message service (SMS)–based interventions have been quite effective in different programs such as smoking cessation, treatment adherence, health care scheduled appointment attendance, antenatal care attendance, and compliance to immunization. However, there are limited data from low- and middle-income countries on the role of SMS and automated call–based messages and interventions to improve routine immunization (RI) coverage.ObjectiveThe primary objective of this study is to evaluate whether automated mobile phone–based personalized messages (SMS or automated call) can improve RI uptake at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age per the expanded program immunization schedule, compared with a usual care control group. Secondary objectives include assessing the effects of different types of automated SMS text or calls on RI coverage at 20 weeks of age.MethodsThis is a mixed methods study using a clustered randomized controlled trial with 4 intervention arms and 1 control arm, augmented by qualitative interviews for personalizing the message. The study is being conducted in Pakistan (an urban site in Karachi and a rural site Matiari). In Karachi, 250 administrative structures are taken as 1 cluster, whereas in Matiari, a catchment area of 4 Lady Health Workers is considered as 1 cluster. The intervention targets families to receive weekly 1-way or 2-way (interactive) personalized automated SMS or automated phone call messages regarding vaccination. Possible barriers to vaccination are assessed in each family at the time of inclusion to determine the type of personalized messages that should be sent to the family to increase the chance of a positive response. Finally, in-depth interviews using purposive sampling are conducted before and after the trial to determine the family’s vaccination experience and related factors.ResultsAll study participants for the cluster randomized trial were enrolled by January 14, 2019. Study exit interviews at 20-weeks follow-up visits will be completed by June 2019.ConclusionsThe results of this study will be useful to understand the respective effects of SMS text messages versus automated phone–based communication to improve RI coverage and timelines. Moreover, information regarding families’ perceptions of vaccination and the daily life challenges for timely visits to the vaccine clinic will be used for developing more complex interventions that use mobile phone messages and possibly other approaches to overcome barriers in the uptake of correct and timely immunization practices.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03341195; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03341195 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/78EWA56Uo)International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/12851

Construction Practices in Karachi Featuring Town Wise Study: Non-Compliance of Safety Measures and Consequences

Based on the statistical evaluation of accidents, the construction industry on an overall basis is full of dangers and risk oriented. The natures of the activities involved become hazardous when compliance with the safety rules and regulations are not properly followed, as a result high rates of accidents occur on the construction sites. In the metropolitan city of Karachi, Pakistan, a poor safety record has been observed in the construction industry. The primary reason existing for this situation is a non-preventive construction safety practice during execution of the projects. The secondary causes are dependent on the lack of resources, skills and interest of the concerned public sector agencies in enforcing the safety protocol regulations for the construction sites. In-addition, this situation also arises due to the lack of training in construction practices, child labor and a minimum awareness about the safety rules and regulations concerned with working on the construction sites.&#x0D; This necessitated a need to embark on a program of collecting data in connection with the accidents occurring on construction sites in Karachi; a six months program involving Construction Site Accidents (CSA) was accomplished. This involved different districts of Karachi region to be included in this study. In particular, CSA contributory factors relating to skilled, semi-skilled, and non-skilled labors were evaluated and marginalized. Through this study, it will be shown how by properly implementing the safety and operational measures, based on statistical conclusions, the rate of accidents can be significantly reduced.&#x0D; &#x0D; Index Terms— Construction, Construction Site Accidents (CSA), Safety, Labor, Construction Industry.

Construction Practices in Karachi Featuring Town Wise Study: Non-Compliance of Safety Measures and Consequences

Based on the statistical evaluation of accidents, the construction industry on an overall basis is full of dangers and risk oriented. The natures of the activities involved become hazardous when compliance with the safety rules and regulations are not properly followed, as a result high rates of accidents occur on the construction sites. In the metropolitan city of Karachi, Pakistan, a poor safety record has been observed in the construction industry. The primary reason existing for this situation is a non-preventive construction safety practice during execution of the projects. The secondary causes are dependent on the lack of resources, skills and interest of the concerned public sector agencies in enforcing the safety protocol regulations for the construction sites. In-addition, this situation also arises due to the lack of training in construction practices, child labor and a minimum awareness about the safety rules and regulations concerned with working on the construction sites.&#x0D; This necessitated a need to embark on a program of collecting data in connection with the accidents occurring on construction sites in Karachi; a six months program involving Construction Site Accidents (CSA) was accomplished. This involved different districts of Karachi region to be included in this study. In particular, CSA contributory factors relating to skilled, semi-skilled, and non-skilled labors were evaluated and marginalized. Through this study, it will be shown how by properly implementing the safety and operational measures, based on statistical conclusions, the rate of accidents can be significantly reduced.&#x0D; &#x0D; Index Terms— Construction, Construction Site Accidents (CSA), Safety, Labor, Construction Industry.

EVALUATION OF BEHAVIOR OF WASTE DISPOSAL SITES IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN AND EFFECTS OF ENHANCED LEACHING ON THEIR EMISSION POTENTIAL

This study aims to assess the efficiency of enhanced leaching on biodegradation of residual waste and gas emissions from waste disposal sites. The investigation simulated the waste disposal conditions in the landfill sites of Karachi, Pakistan in terms of waste composition, moisture content, and climatic conditions. For this purpose, a lysimetric analysis method was applied. Landfill sites in Karachi have typically no cover and the waste degrades in relatively dry conditions due to the lower moisture content of the waste as well as due to the low annual rainfall. Decomposition of organic waste with low moisture content and limited water introduction is causing prolonged emissions in the form of gas and leachate due to the slow biodegradation process. This paper focuses on the comparison of gaseous emissions from waste disposal sites in two different circumstances by applying two different experimental approaches. In the first approach, the actual dry conditions were simulated by means of limited water addition and without leachate recirculation. In the second approach, enhanced leaching conditions were provided with process water addition and leachate recirculation. The results from 100 days of experimental operation revealed that an enhanced leaching is able to increase gas formation in comparatively short periods and prolongs gaseous emissions from waste disposal sites can be controlled. This lab scale study can provide baseline data for further research and planning to transform waste dumpsites to sanitary landfills in the region.

Rates and causes of stillbirth in a demographic surveillance site in Karachi, Pakistan

ObjectiveTo determine burden, timing and causes of stillbirths in aprospective cohort of pregnant from a low income community settingin peri urban KarachiIntroductionStillbirth remained a neglected issue absent from mention inMillennium Development Goals. An estimated 2.6 million babies arestillborn every year withhighest rate in Pakistan, 43.1 stillbirths/1000births. There is lack of good quality prospective population based datain Pakistanregarding burden, timing and causes of stillbirthsMethodsFrom Jan – Dec 2012, Community Helath Workers (CHWs)identified pregnant women through 3 monthly household visits.Pregnant women were then followed up till end of their pregnancy.In case of a stillbirth, a detailed verbal autopsy (VA) interview wasundertaken 2 weeks after the outcome by a research assistant. VAforms were then reviewed by 2 independent Physicians who assigneda cause for stillbirth. In case of disagreement, VA form was reviewedby a third physician. A consensus between two physicians wasrequired for a definitive cause.ResultsThere were a total of 273 stillbirths (3.04%) reported. Stillbirthrate was 30.7/1000 births. Distribution of antepartum and intrapartumstillbirths was 83% and 17%. Three most common causes of stillbirthsincluded pregnancy induced Hypertension(37%), antepartumhemorrhage (10%) and obstructed labor(6%) (fig. 1).ConclusionsWe have reported a high burden of stillbirths that take placeduring the intrapartum period. This reemphasizes need for goodquality antenatal care in these settings. Appropriate measure needsto be taken targeting most common causes of stillbirths, focusing onimproved antepartum health care facilities

Temporal variation of Black Carbon concentration using Aethalometer observations and its relationships with meteorological variables in Karachi, Pakistan

Black Carbon (BC) mass concentration was measured continuously for every five-minute interval with ground-based Aethalometer at an urban site in Karachi for the period from 2006 to 2008. In this study, the temporal (diurnal, monthly and seasonal) variations of BC and its relationship with meteorological variables were analyzed. Monthly averaged concentrations of BC ranged from 2.2 to 12.5µg/m3, with maximum in the month of January 2007 and minimum in the month of June 2006. BC showed higher concentrations during the months of January, February and November while lower during the months of May, June, July and August throughout the years. It also displayed comparatively high concentrations during winter and postmonsoon, while moderate during premonsoon and low during summer. Diurnal analysis of BC concentration showed sharp peaks between 07:00 and 09:00 LST and again around 22:00 during all the months. Moreover, the relationship between BC concentration and meteorological variables such as Temperature (Temp), Relative Humidity (RH), Wind Speed (WS), Visibility (VIS) and RainFall (RF) was found and it was observed that BC concentration showed an inverse relationship with all these meteorological variables. Finally, the analysis of the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) cluster trajectories revealed that almost all the clusters were originating from southwest of the study site.

Implementation of the ANISA Study in Karachi, Pakistan: Challenges and Solutions.

Aetiology of Neonatal Infection in South Asia (ANISA) is a multicenter study in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan exploring the incidence and etiology of neonatal infections. A periurban site in Karachi was selected for its representativeness of the general population in neonatal health indicators. An established demographic surveillance system and other infrastructure needed for conducting the study already existed at this site. ANISA presents a unique challenge because of the need to capture every birth outcome in the community within a few hours of delivery to reliably estimate the incidence and etiology of early-onset sepsis in a setting where home births and deaths are common. Major challenges at the Karachi site are related to early birth reporting and newborn assessment for births outside the catchment areas, parental refusal to participate, diverse ethnicity of the population, collection of biological specimens from healthy controls, political instability and crime, power outages and blood culture contamination. Some of the remedial actions taken include prolonging working hours; developing counseling skills of field workers; hiring staff with different linguistic abilities from within the study community; liaising with health facilities, key community informants, Lady Health Workers and traditional birth attendants; hiring community mobilizers; enhancing community sensitization; developing contingency plans for field work interruptions and procuring backup generators. The specimen contamination rate has decreased through training, supervision and video monitoring of blood collection procedures with individualized counseling of phlebotomists. ANISA offers lessons for successful implementation of complex study protocols in areas of high child mortality and challenging social environments.

Chemical characterization and mass closure of PM10 and PM2.5 at an urban site in Karachi – Pakistan

Abstract A mass balance method is applied to assess main source contributions to PM2.5 and PM10 levels in Karachi. Carbonaceous species (elemental carbon, organic carbon, carbonate carbon), soluble ions (Ca++, Mg++, Na+, K+, NH4+, Cl − , NO3 − , SO4 − ), saccharides (levoglucosan, galactosan, mannosan, sucrose, fructose, glucose, arabitol and mannitol) were determined in atmospheric fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10) aerosol samples collected under pre-monsoon conditions (March–April 2009) at an urban site in Karachi (Pakistan). The concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 were found to be 75 μg/m3 and 437 μg/m3 respectively. The large difference between PM10 and PM2.5 originated predominantly from mineral dust. “Calcareous dust” and „siliceous dust” were the over all dominating material in PM, with 46% contribution to PM2.5 and 78% to PM10–2.5. Combustion particles and secondary organics (EC + OM) comprised 23% of PM2.5 and 6% of PM10–2.5. EC, as well as OC ambient levels were higher (59% and 56%) in PM10–2.5 than in PM2.5. Biomass burning contributed about 3% to PM2.5, and had a share of about 13% of “EC + OM” in PM2.5. The impact of bioaerosol (fungal spores) was minor and had a share of 1 and 2% of the OC in the PM2.5 and PM10–2.5 size fractions. In case of secondary inorganic aerosols, ammonium sulphate (NH4)2SO4 contributes 4.4% to PM2.5 and no detectable quantity were found in fraction PM10–2.5. The sea salt contribution is about 2% both to PM2.5 and PM10–2.5.