117 research outputs found
Characterization of Physiological and Biochemical Attributes of Neem (<i>Azadirachta indica</i> A. Juss) under Salinity Stress
No full textSalinity poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity worldwide, with its detrimental effects on plant growth and physiological processes. Understanding the mechanisms by which plants respond to salt stress is crucial for developing strategies to mitigate its impact on crop yield and sustainability. To address this issue, a pot study was conducted to determine the effect of salt stress on the physiological and biochemical attributes of neem (Azdiarchta indica A. Juss). Plants were grown for 10 months in pots filled with soil having different salinity levels of 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 dS m−1 and compared with a control of 1.7 dS m−1. The results showed that plant growth and chlorophyll contents declined as salinity levels increased. Due to oxidative stress, the contents of H2O2 increased under higher salt levels. The mitigation of oxidative stress was achieved through the activation of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase). Multivariate analysis indicated that Na+ accumulation in plants was positively related to H2O2 production and enzymatic activities, and negatively related to plant biomass, chlorophyll contents, root and shoot K+ concentration, and root K+/Na+. The experimental results suggest that neem plants can be grown in moderate saline soils
Remittances and Poverty Linkages in Pakistan: Evidence and Some Suggestions for Further Analysis
No full textGlobal remittances experienced a dramatic increase over the years, particularly since 1990 wherein the developing world emerged to be the major beneficiary accounting for 60 percent of the total amount. Because of the sheer volume, and magnitude of the remittances, and pre-eminence of these flows compared to the FDIs, development assistance and in some cases the trade related transactions, the development practitioners tended to focus and investigate the importance of remittances which are generally regarded as a dependable source for growth, improved welfare and poverty alleviation in the developing world. Given the fact that remittances flows entail wide ranging ramifications both for sending as well as receiving countries, difficult to be generalised, hence empirical evidence has been mounted though lack of consensus is visible.
Contribution of Services Sector in the Economy of Pakistan
No full textThe services sector has provided steady support to Pakistan’s economic growth. It share in GDP now stands a more than 50 percent. The paper analyses its continuation in the growth of the economy in general and the development of trade and genera tion of employment in particular. The study identifies the bottlenecks in its growth and suggest measures to remove them. A set of policy reforms has been suggested to make the sector more effective in the growth of the national economy.Services Sector, Industry, Employment, Financial Institutions and Pakistan’s Economy
Poverty Dynamics of Female-headed Households in Pakistan: Evidence from PIHS 2000-01 and PSLM 2004-05
No full textThe paper attempts to empirically test a naïve version of what is rather stylistically termed as “feminisation of poverty”, using the sub-sample of female -headed households (FHHs) from two household surveys in Pakistan. Although, the database is constrained by quality factors and small sample size, the following findings add to the richness of current research in this area: (a) The numerical incidence of poverty among households headed by females is less than that for all households in the country, at the national, urban and rural level for both the years. This can be traced to the finding that more than 70 percent of households headed by females receive remittances, (b) The incidence of poverty among FHHs during the period 2000-01 to 2004-05 did not decline as fast as it did for mixed households, nationwide. In urban areas, it did not decline at all, (c) Among the determinants of poverty of FHHs, illiteracy, dependency and rural residence exacerbate poverty, while remittances domestic and/ or foreign reduce poverty, (d) The dynamics of incidence of poverty among FHHs during the period indicated that Illiteracy as the factor exacerbating poverty became less important in 2004-05. Moreover, residence in rural areas was also a weaker factor in determining the incidence of poverty. By far the most notable contribution in reducing the incidence of poverty was self-employment in agriculture in 2004-05.
Synthesis and characterization of efficient Sr-doped ZnO nanostructures for optoelectronic, and photocatalytic applications
No full textAvailable online 15 February 2024With increasing technological advancements, optoelectronics emergence is inevitable. Various metal oxides are explored for optoelectronics properties and Zinc oxide-based nanostructures have various advantages that can be explored in optoelectronic devices. Nanomaterials that are undoped and Strontium doped were synthesized via a simple wet chemistry route. The study set out to quantify the impact of Strontium doping in Zinc Oxide on optical and photocatalytic properties. The doping of strontium concentration within ZnO varied from 0 % to 3 % by weight of the total molar ratio. The characterization of SZO nanomaterials was done using measurements of Xray diffraction, Raman Spectroscopy, SEM, Hall effect measurements, UV/Vis, and PL regarding their structural properties, morphological properties, optical properties, and electrical characteristics. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the Sr-doped ZnO had the hexagonal wurtzite structure of zinc oxide. SEM showed that the morphology of Sr-doped ZnO thin films changed by increasing Sr concentration. Meanwhile, the film’s surface was smooth and crack-free. In UV–Vis experiments, the concentration of Sr doping reduced the optical band gap ranges from 3.27 eV to 2.98 eV. All the samples exhibited n-type conductivity in the Hall Effect. Photocatalytic degradation Methylene Blue was studied and SZO (3 at. %) was best for degradation with efficiency over 80 %.Alqa Saeeda Javaid, Wajeeha Saeeda Javaid, Muhammad Adnan, Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Aftab Akram, Najma Bashir, Awais Khalid, Pervaiz Ahmad, Mousa M. Hossin, Iram Liaqat, Mohamed A. Ismail, Hanna Dib, Natasha Arsha
Estimating the Middle Class in Pakistan
No full textThe concept ‘middle class’ is one of the most commonly used terms in the social sciences, including economics, sociology and political science. Despite its frequent use there is, however, no consensus on what the term exactly implies and its meaning remains ambiguous depending primarily on the context in which it is used. It is viewed as the class that is between, and separates, the lower and the upper classes, that is the rich and the poor, but there is no agreement on the exact boundaries that separates them. Most of the definitions and measurements of the middle class continue to be somewhat arbitrary and vague.
Amplicon-based RNA interference targeting V2 gene of cotton leaf curl kokhran virus- burewala strain can provide resistance in transgenic cotton plants
No full textThe conserved coat or V2 gene of begomoviruses is responsible for viral movement in the plant cells. RNAi technology was used to silence V2 gene for resistance against these viruses in transgenic plants. The transformation of the RNAi-based gene construct targeting V2 gene of CLCuKoV-Bur, cloned under 35S promoter, was done in two elite cotton varieties MNH-786 and VH- 289 using shoot apex cut method of gene transformation.
The transformation efficiency was found to be 3.75 and 2.88 % in MNH-786 and VH-289, respectively. Confirmation of successful transformation was done through PCR in T0, T1, and T2 generations using gene-specific primers. Transgenic cotton plants were categorized on the basis of
the virus disease index in T1 generation. Copy number and transgene location were observed using FISH and karyotyping in T2 generation which confirmed random integration of V2 RNAi amplicon at chromosome 6 and 16. Real-time quantitative PCR analyses of promising transgenic lines showed low virus titer compared to wild-type control plants upon challenging them with viruliferous whiteflies in a contained environment. From the results, it was concluded that amplicon V2 RNAi construct was able to limit virus replication and can be used to control CLCuV
in the field
Establishment of Embryogenic Cultures and Efficient Plant Regeneration System from Explants of Forced Softwood Shoots of Teak (Tectona grandis L.)
No full textThe present study highlights an efficient plant regeneration system in teak (Tectona grandis L.) using forced softwood shoots as an initial plant material. Forced softwood shoots of teak were cut to prepare shoot tip, nodal and internodal explants and cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium + NAA (1, 3, 6, 10, and 15 µmol ⋅ L−1) or TDZ (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 4, 8, 10, 12 µmol ⋅ L−1) for callus induction. Such calluses were further grown on the same levels of TDZ or 0.4, 1, 4, 8, 10 µmol ⋅ L−1 BA + 1 µmol ⋅ L−1 IBA or GA3. Callus induction was the highest with 4.55 cm3 callus volume and 5.75 g dry weight at 0.1 µmol ⋅ L−1 TDZ from shoot tips after 35 days. Embryogenic calluses were then shifted to 6, 8 or 12 µmol ⋅ L−1 TDZ + 2 µmol ⋅ L−1 BA or IBA along with 5 mmol ⋅ L−1 ascorbic acid (AA) for shoot regeneration from embryogenic cultures. The highest embryogenesis (100%) with 36.4 globular and 5.5 heart-shaped embryo-like structures was obtained at 8 µmol ⋅ L−1 TDZ + 2 µmol ⋅ L−1 BA after 63 days. Such cultures when further maintained on the same medium up to 150 days resulted in 100% shoot regeneration with 16.4 mean shoots. Shoots were elongated up to 50 mm on agar medium + 8 µmol ⋅ L−1 BA + 1 µmol ⋅ L−1 GA3. An efficient rooting response (70%) was achieved having 4.50 mean number and 49.10 mm root length at 8 µmol ⋅ L−1 IBA + 8 µmol ⋅ L−1 NAA + 0.1% activated charcoal after 36 days. Rooted shoots were acclimatized in glasshouse, achieving 56.6% plantlet survival
Algebraic Representation of Social Capital Matrix
No full textThis paper proposes a mathematical model based on a Boolean algebra involving a 44 social capital matrix [Shah (2008)], that emerges through interaction within and across individuals, communities, institutions and state. The framework provides a coding system for the existence or otherwise of various categories of social interaction. The model illustrates that social interaction can be neatly described in a format that facilitates the interpretation of social intra- and interactions among the four types of players in generating economic activity.Social Capital (Matrix), Linear Space, Interactive Systems, Boolean Algebra
Factors Determining Public Demand for Safe Drinking Water (A Case Study of District Peshawar)
No full textOvertime per capita water availability in the world as well as in Pakistan has been declining. Water sources have depleted and become polluted therefore, now water has become a scarce good. Resultantly, the inadequate water supply, sanitation, and hygiene are rooting major environmental degradation and health damages in the country. This study was undertaken to analyze the magnitude of awareness, perception, practices, and demand for safe drinking water. The study further elaborated HHs Willingness to Pay (WTP) for improved water quality and services in district Peshawar of NWFP, Pakistan. Primary data was collected from 315 HHs which consist 2455 HH members from district Peshawar. Schooling, exposure to mass media, HH income and occurrence of diarrhoeal diseases were used to measure the HHs’ response towards the health risks associated with contaminated water. Moreover, to find out public acceptability to government and private sector as service providers, HH’s were asked two separate questions regarding their maximum willingness to pay for an improved water system by either one. Out of the sample HHs, 78.4 percent were willing to accept improved water system provided by government while relatively less HHs (55.6 percent) were WTP in the case of private company as the service provider. It is worth mentioning that according to sample about 76 percent HHs were not using any method for water purification at their homes in district Peshawar. This study empirically proved that the role of awareness besides the income constraint is the key determinants of demand for safe drinking water.
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