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Devil’s cotton (Ulatkambal) is a genus in the family Malvaceae, with one or two species from Asia and Australia. Literature review revealed that Abroma augusta (Devil’s cotton) is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine as a popular drug. Devil’s cotton has been claimed to possess major biological activities like anti-diabetic, analgesic, anti-inflamatory, thrombolytic, antioxidant, hypolipidemic etc. They are also utilized by the traditional local healers of different Asian countries to treat various diseases like diabetes mellitus, as uterine tonic in emmerogogue, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhoea, sterility and other menstrual disorders, rheumatic pains of joints and headache with sinusitis. Biochemical profiling of different parts of the plant demonstrated the presence of some important phytochemicals like alkaloids, abromin, sterol, friedelin, abromasterol, taroxerylacetate, taraxeral and β-sitosterol. The aim of this review was to analyze the published report based on the medicinal values of Devil’s cotton species as well to provide the updated information about the ethnomedicinal, pharmacological as well as the phytochemical properties. Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 22(1): 109-116, 2019

Low birth weight (LBW

The main objectives of the study were to determine the present status of fish biodiversity and socio-economic condition of fishermen in Belai beel during February 2016 to September 2016 by survey method using questionnaires, field visit and interviewing with the fishermen. The results indicated that about 27 species of fish fauna were found in the Belai beel, among them 23 species were indigenous and 4 species were exotic. Major dominant species were Rui ( Labeo rohita ) , Catla ( Catla catla ), Bata ( Labeo bata ), Shingi ( Heteropeneustes fossilis ) , Magur ( Clarius batrachus ), Tengra ( Mystus tengra ), Chanda ( Chanda nama ) , Kakila ( Xenentodon cancila ) , Common carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) , Mola ( Amblypharyngodon mola ) in the study area. During the study period two critically endangered ( Puntius sarana, Pangasius pangasius ), two endangered ( Labeo bata, Channa marulius ), and three vulnerable ( Chanda nama, Channa orientalis, Notopterus notopterus ) fish species were found in the Belai beel. Analysis of socio-economic condition of fishermen showed that maximum (70%) had nuclear family and others (30%) had joint family, as well as fishermen, belonged to the age groups of 31 to 40 years (50%) and the others were 15 to 30 (20%), 41 to 50 (18%), 51 to 60 (10%), 61 to70 (2%). Overall, the present study suggested that fishermen communities should be educated by creating awareness for the proper conservation, management, and enhancement of biodiversity in the Belaibeel. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. March 2018, 4(1): 69-76

Water quality has considerable impact on public health especially in areas where access to safe drinking water is very difficult. Keeping in view, drinking water quality in rural areas of district, Jaffarabad was assessed by evaluating 50 groundwater and 25 surface water samples for various physicochemical parameters (color, odour, taste, conductivity, pH, turbidity, alkalinity, hardness and TDS), metallic elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe and As) and microbiological organisms (total coliform and faecal coliform) employing standard methods. Analysis data revealed high level of microbial contamination as 62 and 84% water samples contained total coliform and 58 and 80% samples were having faecal coliform in groundwater and surface water samples, respectively. On the other hand 12, 36, 44, 14, 50 & 32% and 84, 32, 32, 20, 44 & 60% water samples were having higher turbidity, hardness, TDS, Cl-, SO4-2 and Fe in ground and surface water samples respectively. Health risk assessment data due to high content of Fe and As showed that mean chronic daily intake (CDI) and health risk index (HRI) for As was higher than Fe in both surface and groundwater samples, whereas calculated HRI for all water samples is less than 1. Other than this, CDI and HRI values for Fe in surface water samples are higher than groundwater samples.

Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) is a learner-centered approach for language teaching and learning. In the CLT context, learner’s role changes from that of a passive receiver to an active participant engaging in diverse classroom activities that promote communicative competence. Again, L2 learners are supposed to learn the language by using it for different tasks, and taking part in pair work, group work, role play, and discussion inside classrooms. This study aims to find out gaps, if any, between learner roles as advocated in CLT theory and as practiced by learners in the higher secondary classrooms in Bangladesh while teaching/learning English following this approach, and its relation to poor ‘learning outcomes’. Journal of NELTA, Vol 20 No. 1-2, December 2015, page: 34-40

Pursuing the strategy of developing potent AChE inhibitors, we attempted to carry out the N1-substitution of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one core. A set of 32 N-alkylated/benzylated quinazoline derivatives were synthesized, characterized and evaluated for their inhibition against cholinesterases. N-alkylation of the series of the compounds reported previously (N-unsubstituted) resulted in improved activity. All the compounds showed inhibition of both enzymes in the micromolar to submicromolar range. Structure activity relationship (SAR) of the 32 derivatives showed that N-benzylated compounds possess good activity than N-alkylated compounds. N-benzylated compounds 2ad and 2af were found very active with their IC50 values toward AChE in submicromolar range (0.8 µM and 0.6 µM respectively). Binding modes of the synthesized compounds were explored by using GOLD (Genetic Optimization for Ligand Docking) suit v5.4.1. Computational predictions of ADMET studies reveal that all the compounds have good pharmacokinetic properties with no AMES toxicity and carcinogenicity. Moreover, all the compounds are predicted to be absorbed in human intestine and also have the ability to cross blood brain barrier. Overall, the synthesized compounds have established a structural foundation for the design of new inhibitors of cholinesterase.

Biodiesel is now-a-days recognized as a real potential alternative to petroleum-derived diesel fuel due to its number of desirable characteristics. However, its higher production cost resulting mainly due to use of costly food-grade vegetable oils as raw materials is the major barrier to its economic viability. Present work is an attempt to explore the potential of Eriobotrya japonica seed oil for the synthesis of biodiesel using alkali-catalyzed transesterification. Optimization of production parameters, namely molar ratio of alcohol to oil, amount of catalyst, reaction time and temperature, was carried out using Taguchi method. Fatty acid composition of both oil and biodiesel was determined using GC and H1 NMR. Alcohol to oil molar ratio of 6:1, catalyst amount of 1% wt/wt, 2 h reaction time and 50 °C reaction temperature were found to be the optimum conditions for obtaining 94.52% biodiesel. Highest % contribution was shown by the ‘amount of catalyst’ (67.32%) followed by molar ratio of alcohol...

Globally, reproductive health research among female sex workers (FSWs) often focuses on pregnancy prevention, but many women who sell sex aspire to have children in the future. In Bangladesh, where early marriage and parenthood is the norm, we examine reproductive histories and childbearing desires of young women who sell sex in brothels. We interviewed 1061 FSWs aged 18 to 24 in eight brothels in three Bangladesh divisions. Interviewers elicited information on sociodemographic characteristics, contraceptive use, pregnancy history, and childbearing desire. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to examine correlates of wanting to have a child within 24 months.

Magnesium deficiency during pregnancy has been reported to be associated with eclampsia. This descriptive cross sectional study carried out in Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Chittagong Medical College Hospital from September 2013 to August 2014. The objective of the study was to estimate the serum magnesium level in eclamptic patients. Serum magnesium level of 80 eclamptic patients and 80 healthy pregnant women (Age and gestational age matched) were measured and compared to evaluate the association between hypomagnesaemia and eclampsia. All the necessary information and clinical data were recorded in predesigned questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS. t-Test and Chi-square test were used for comparison of quantitative and qualitative data respectively. For analytical test the level of significance was 0.05 (‘p’ value

In search of potent inhibitors of cholinesterases, we have synthesized and evaluate a number of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one derivatives. The synthetic approach provided an efficient synthesis of the target molecules with excellent yield. All the tested compounds showed activity against both the enzymes in micromolar range. In many case, the inhibition of both enzymes are higher than or comparable to the standard drug galatamine. With the selectivity index of 2.3 for AChE, compound 5f can be considered as a potential lead compound with a feature of dual AChE/BChE inhibition with IC50=1.6±0.10μM (AChE) and 3.7±0.18μM (BChE). Binding modes of the synthesized compounds were explored by using GOLD (Genetic Optimization for Ligand Docking) suit v5.4.1. The computed binding modes of these compounds in the active site of AChE and BChE provide an insight into the mechanism of inhibition of these two enzyme.

Purpose Dhaka City is home to thousands of migrants from Bangladesh's rural areas who often live in the streets. Prior studies examine street youth's practice of selling sex as a survival mechanism. We assess their less-studied practice of paying for sex and its association with sexual risk behaviors and outcomes. Methods As part of the global Link Up project, trained interviewers recruited 447 young men who live on the streets, ages 15–24, from seven Dhaka City "hotspots" to participate in a survey about sexual health. Among those who ever had sex, we examined frequencies and conducted bivariate analyses of sociodemographic characteristics by paying for sex status. We then conducted bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses of paying for sex in the last 12 months and sexual health behaviors and outcomes. Results Median participant age was 18 years. Among those who ever had sex (N = 321), 80% reported paying for sex in the last 12 months and 15% reported selling sex in the last 12 months. In multivariate analyses, those who paid for sex had significantly increased odds of reporting sexually transmitted infection–related symptoms in the last six months (adjusted odds ratio = 1.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.17–2.64) and engaging in unprotected last sex with a nonprimary partner (adjusted odds ratio = 2.19, CI = 1.58–3.03). Conclusions The adverse factors associated with paying for sex among young men who live on the streets in Dhaka City highlight the need for programs to educate on HIV/sexually transmitted infection prevention and promote condom use, STI screening/treatment, and HIV testing in this population.

Autophagy dysfunction in mouse atherosclerosis models has been associated with increased lipid accumulation, apoptosis and inflammation. Expression of cystatin C (CysC) is decreased in human atheroma, and CysC deficiency enhances atherosclerosis in mice. Here, we first investigated the association of autophagy and CysC expression levels with atheroma plaque severity in human atherosclerotic lesions. We found that autophagy proteins Atg5 and LC3β in advanced human carotid atherosclerotic lesions are decreased, while markers of dysfunctional autophagy p62/SQSTM1 and ubiquitin are increased together with elevated levels of lipid accumulation and apoptosis. The expressions of LC3β and Atg5 were positively associated with CysC expression. Second, we investigated whether CysC expression is involved in autophagy in atherosclerotic apoE-deficient mice, demonstrating that CysC deficiency (CysC−/−) in these mice results in reduction of Atg5 and LC3β levels and induction of apoptosis. Third, macrophages isolated from CysC−/− mice displayed increased levels of p62/SQSTM1 and higher sensitivity to 7-oxysterol-mediated lysosomal membrane destabilization and apoptosis. Finally, CysC treatment minimized oxysterol-mediated cellular lipid accumulation. We conclude that autophagy dysfunction is a characteristic of advanced human atherosclerotic lesions and is associated with reduced levels of CysC. The deficiency of CysC causes autophagy dysfunction and apoptosis in macrophages and apoE-deficient mice. The results indicate that CysC plays an important regulatory role in combating cell death via the autophagic pathway in atherosclerosis. Funding Agencies|Swedish Heart Lung Foundation; Torsten and Ragnar Soderbergs Foundation; Stroke Foundation; Olle Engkvist Foundation; Swedish Gamla Tjanarinnor Foundation; Linkoping University; Linkoping University Hospital Research Foundation; Magnus Bergvall Foundation; Syskonen Svensson Foundation; Crafoord Foundation; Royal Physiographic Society; Lars Hierta Foundation; Lundstrom Foundation; Malmo University Hospital Foundation; Swedish Society of Medicine; USA National Institutes of Health

Purpose: To synthesize novel tris-diamine-derived transition metal complexes of flurbiprofen M(C2H8N2)3 (fp)2 and M(C3H10N2)3 (fp)2, and to evaluate their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities.Method: Tris-diamine-derived transition metal complexes of Co(II), Ni(II), and Mn(II) were synthesized and characterized using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility, conductivity measurement and single crystal x-ray analysis. The synthesized complexes were also evaluated for their AChE and BChE inhibitory activities.Results: Based on magnetic susceptibility and electronic studies, the synthesized complexes possessed distorted octahedral geometry. Conductance measurements indicated that diamine-derived metal complexes of flurbiprofen were electrolytes, whereas, simple metal complexes of flurbiprofen were non-electrolytes. The structure of Ni (C2H8N2)3 (fp)2 was also confirmed by single crystal x-ray analysis. The synthesized metal complexes exhibited moderate-to-very good inhibition of AChE and BChE. In vitro assays revealed that Ni complexes were most active, with the least half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values against AChE and BChE, compared to Co and Mn complexes. Furthermore, 1, 2-diaminoethane-derived complexes were more potent, with lower IC50 values against both AChE and BChE, compared to 1,3-diaminopropane-derived complexes. Among the complexes, 4a and 5a revealed significant cholinesterase inhibitory activities relative to the standard drug, galantamine.Conclusion: All the synthesized metal complexes are active against AChE and BChE, but only 4a and 5a are more active than the standard drug, galantamine, indicating their potential for drug development.Keywords: Flurbiprofen, Cholinesterase, Diamines, Galantamine, Metal complexes, Cholinesterase inhibition

This article is based on a study that was conducted to investigate the physicochemical properties of water in Gowain river at pre-monsoon (February to May), monsoon (June to September) and post-monsoon (October to January) seasons and to determine the relationships between water quality parameters. The water samples were collected from five different sampling stations of Gowain river and analyzed in the laboratory of Department of Environmental Science and Resource Management, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Bangladesh. The results also showed that most of the water quality parameters were suitable for aquatic organisms as well as fish. However, runoff from upstream and waste generated from anthropogenic sources could be the main causes of degradation of water quality and aquatic organisms.

The present study reports successful induced breeding of endangered striped dwarf catfish Mystus vittatus and its different embryonic and larval developmental stages. Three different doses of PG were tested, viz. 17, 15 and 13 mg PG/kg body weight for female and 14, 12 and 10 mg PG/kg body weight for male with maintaining (1:1) male and female ratio. The hormone doses 13 mg/kg for female and 10 mg/kg for male provided the best result i.e. 91.33±2.08% fertilization and 85.00±2% hatching rates. Mean survival percentage of the spawns up to 21 days was 8.00±1%. The fertilized eggs were found to be transparent, demersal, spherical, adhesive and brownish in colour and first cleavage took place within 35-40 min post-fertilization at 29.56± 0.25oC. Hatching took place at 24 h. after fertilization. Newly hatched larvae were 3-4 mm in length and slender, transparent and the yolk sac oval in shape. Anus was situated at almost mid ventrally. Larvae started to feed at 48-72 h post-hatching. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ralf.v1i1.22376 Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.1(1): 127-136, Dec 2014

Highlights • Shows link between built landscape transformation and an animal health pandemic. • Demonstrates urban transition impacts on the precursor to human avian influenza. • Defines a transitional theory of urbanization and change. • Shows new empirical model for urban transition effects on disease or other issues. • Specifies planning actions on avian influenza and emerging infectious diseases., Recent concerns with pandemic outbreaks of human disease and their origins in animal populations have ignited concerns regarding connections between Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) and development. As disasters, health, and infectious disease become part of planning concern (Matthew & McDonald, 2007), greater focus on household infrastructure and EID disease outbreaks among poultry is warranted. Following Spencer (2013), this study examines the relationship between the mix of household-scale water supplies, sanitation systems, and construction materials, and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) among poultry in a developing country: Vietnam. Findings of our multivariate logistic regressions suggest that a non-linear, Kuznets-shaped urban transition (Spencer, 2013) has an independent effect on the outbreak of HPAI, especially as it relates to household-level sanitation infrastructure. We conclude that the Kuznets-shape development of household infrastructure characteristics in Vietnam play a significant role in explaining where poultry outbreaks occur. Using secondary data from the Census of Population and Housing, and the Agricultural Census at the District and Commune levels for the country of Vietnam, we performed logistic regression to test the relationship between outbreaks of HPAI in poultry and newly-developed “coherence indices” (Spencer, 2013) of household water supply, sanitation, and construction materials that measure nonlinear, transitional development. Results show that district-scale coherence indices are negatively and independently correlated with HPAI outbreaks, especially for sanitation. Findings also suggest that community-scale coherence of urban infrastructures is a powerful tool for predicting where HPAI poultry outbreaks are likely to occur, thereby providing health planners new tools for efficient surveillance.

The objective of our study is to highlight the outcome of repair of vesicovaginal fistula in a tertiary care hospital. From May' 2013 to Dec'2014 some patents with vesicovaginal fistula underwent surgical repair in Chittagong Medical College Hospital. This is an observational study. Obstetrical complication mainly obstructed labour (98%) was the most common cause for the development of urinary fistula . Among 50 pt. (all are repaired with transvaginal approach) 41 pt —fully cured, 3 pt had urethral, incontinence. 1 pt. had vaginal stenosis, 5 pt had no successful outcome. The study concluded that genitourinary fistula is still a very troublesome complication of obstetric and gynaecoalogical procedure in developing countries. The high prevalence of vesicovaginal fistula highlights the importance of hospital delivery and the need for skilled and competent health care personal. In all case of VVF repair, proper evaluation of pt. to decide type of procedure and route of repair is essential. JCMCTA 2014 ; 25 (2) : 36-40

The urban transition almost always involves wrenching social adjustment as small agricultural communities are forced to adjust rapidly to industrial ways of life. Large-scale in-migration of young people, usually from poor regions, creates enormous demand and expectations for community and social services. One immediate problem planners face in approaching this challenge is how to define, differentiate, and map what is rural, urban, and transitional (i.e., peri-urban). This project established an urban classification for Vietnam by using national census and remote sensing data to identify and map the smallest administrative units for which data are collected as rural, peri-urban, urban, or urban core. We used both natural and human factors in the quantitative model: income from agriculture, land under agriculture and forests, houses with modern sanitation, and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. Model results suggest that in 2006, 71% of Vietnam's 10,891 communes were rural, 18% peri-urban, 3% urban, and 4% urban core. Of the communes our model classified as peri-urban, 61% were classified by the Vietnamese government as rural. More than 7% of Vietnam's land area can be classified as peri-urban and approximately 13% of its population (more than 11 million people) lives in peri-urban areas. We identified and mapped three types of peri-urban places: communes in the periphery of large towns and cities; communes along highways; and communes associated with provincial administration or home to industrial, energy, or natural resources projects (e.g., mining). We validated this classification based on ground observations, analyses of multi-temporal night-time lights data, and an examination of road networks. The model provides a method for rapidly assessing the rural–urban nature of places to assist planners in identifying rural areas undergoing rapid change with accompanying needs for investments in building, sanitation, road infrastructure, and government institutions.

Cervical cancer is the most common prevalent cancer that continues to be a major health care problem world wide. It is still an important cause of mortality and morbidity in the developing countries. An estimated 500,000 new cases of cancer cervix and 233.000 deaths occurred in the year 2000 and almost 80% of these cases happen in the developing countries. Hospital based statistics indicated cervical cancer constitutes 22-35% of the female cancer in different areas of Bangladesh and India. A retrospective study was done in Gynaecology and Obstetric department in KMCH between January 2004 to January 2009 to see the incidence, correlation of age, parity, socioeconomic condition and clinical staging, treatment and other risks factors of carcinoma cervix. Out of total 120 diagnosed cases of cervical cancer were evaluated regarding their clinio-demographic profile, appearance of growth, clinical staging and types of treatment done . The results showed 49% of patient were in the age group of 31-40 years, 26% were in the 41-50 years group, early age at first coitus (70%), most of the patients (82%) presented with advanced stage and referred for radiotherapy or chemo radiation. One in ten female cancers diagnosed world wide are cancers of the cervix and there is seven fold variation in the incidence of cervical cancer between the different regions of the world. The Incidence of invasive cervical carcinoma can be reduced by development of health education and promotion of national screening programme such as Visual Inspection of cervix (VIA), Colposcopy and vaccination against Human Pappiloma Virus (HPV). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmjk.v45i1-2.13623 Bang Med J (Khulna) 2012; 45 : 11-14

Working with health providers to reduce HIV stigma in the healthcare setting is an important strategy to improve service utilization and quality of care, especially for young people who are sexually active before marriage, are sexual minorities, or who sell sex. A stigma reduction training program for health providers in Bangladesh was evaluated.A cohort of 300 healthcare providers were given a self-administered questionnaire, then attended a 2-day HIV and sexual and reproductive health and rights training (including a 90-minute session on stigma issues). Six months later, the cohort repeated the survey and participated in a 1-day supplemental training on stigma, which included reflection on personal values and negative impacts of stigma. A third survey was administered 6 months later. A cross-sectional survey of clients age 15-24 years was implemented before and after the second stigma training to assess client satisfaction with services.Provider agreement that people living with HIV should be ashamed of themselves decreased substantially (35.3%-19.7%-16.3%; p.001), as did agreement that sexually active young people (50.3%-36.0%-21.7%; p.001) and men who have sex with men (49.3%-38.0%-24.0%; p.001) engage in "immoral behavior." Young clients reported improvement in overall satisfaction with services after the stigma trainings (63.5%-97.6%; p.001).This study indicates that a targeted stigma reduction intervention can rapidly improve provider attitudes and increase service satisfaction among young people. More funding to scale up these interventions is needed.

Oxysterol accumulation and p53 expression mainly in macrophages have been associated with cell death and necrotic core formation in human atheroma progression. Oxidative stress and lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) in macrophages are important causes of macrophage apoptosis. However, it is not understood how p53 and oxysterols interact in the process. We show here that 7-oxysterols induce endogenous full-length p53 and phospho-p53 (p53-Ser15) in both nucleus and cytoplasm of THP1 and J774 cells, which is followed by cellular oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death. The role of p53 in 7-oxysterol-mediated cell death is further investigated in temperature sensitive p53-transfected (M1-t-p53) and in p53-deficient (M1) cells. These results reveal that 7-oxysterols induce induction and nuclear translocation of p53 in M1-t-p53 cells, which in turn enhances LMP, mitochondrial translocation of Bax, mitochondrial membrane permeabilization, cytosolic release of cytochrome c, and cell death. Most importantly, the above effects of 7-oxysterols were not observed in p53-deficient M1 cells. The findings reveal that 7-oxysterol-induced cell death occurs via p53-dependent pathways. Subsequent p53 nuclear translocation and induction of wild-type and phosphorylated p53 are early steps in oxysterol-induced lysosomal-mitochondrial pathways involved in cell death.

Production of char and its application to soil are a strategy to reduce the increasing rate of atmospheric C. However, a large proportion of C in materials is lost during the charring process, and the strong interaction with soil particles is not anticipated because of the lack of functional

Charred plant fragments are frequently observed in soil. However, their structure has not been elucidated. In the present study, charred plant fragments detached from soil by HF treatment and collected by heavy liquid separation were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Three Andosols from the northeastern, central and western districts of Japan were used. Supportive information was obtained by solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and δ13C analyses. In the XRD analysis, the size of the carbon (C)-layer planes in the charred plant fragments ranged from 0.96 to 1.92 nm, corresponding to 14–52 ring condensed aromatic structures. The size distribution of the C-layer planes did not differ largely among the three soils. A minor effect of vegetation on the composition of the condensed aromatic structures in the plant charred fragments was deduced from differences in the content of the 1.92 nm C-layer plane and δ13C. The relative content of condensed aromatic structures tended t...

7-Oxysterols are major toxic components in oxidized low-density lipoprotein and human atheroma lesions, which cause lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) and cell death. Autophagy may function as a survival mechanism in this process. Here, we investigated whether 7-oxysterols mixed in an atheroma-relevant proportion induce autophagy, whether autophagy induction influences 7-oxysterol-mediated cell death, and the underlying mechanisms, by focusing on cellular lipid levels, oxidative stress, and LMP in 7-oxysterol-treated macrophages. We found that 7-oxysterols induced cellular lipid accumulation, autophagy dysfunction, and cell death in the form of both apoptosis and necrosis. Exposure to 7-oxysterols induced autophagic vacuole synthesis in the form of increased autophagy marker microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3) and LC3-phosphatidylethanolamine conjugate (LC3-II) and autophagic vacuole formation. This led to an accumulation of p62, indicating a reduction in autophagic vacuole degradation. Importantly, autophagy induction significantly reduced 7-oxysterol-mediated cell death by diminishing LMP and oxidative stress. Moreover, autophagy induction minimized cellular lipid accumulation induced by 7-oxysterols. These findings highlight the importance of autophagy in combating cellular stress, LMP, and cell death in atherosclerosis. Therefore, activation of the autophagy pathway may be a potential therapeutic strategy for prevention of necrotic core formation in atherosclerotic lesions.

This is the first systematic review of studies done since 1960, and to give an integrated picture of pesticides exposure to humans, animals, plants, waters, soils/sediments, atmosphere etc. in Pakistan. Authors have extracted data from different departments, published literature in research journals and National reports. Although the wide-spread usage of pesticides in Pakistan has controlled the pests, but like other countries, it has started causing environmental problems in the area. In some areas of Punjab and Sindh groundwater has been found contaminated and is constantly being under the process of contamination due to pesticide use. There is considerable evidence that farmers have overused and misused pesticides especially in cotton-growing areas. It is evident from the biological monitoring studies that farmers are at higher risk for acute and chronic health effects associated with pesticides due to occupational exposure. Furthermore, the intensive use of pesticides (higher sprays more than the recommended dose) in cotton areas involves a special risk for the field workers, pickers, and of an unacceptable residue concentration in cottonseed oil and cakes.The authors have also discussed the merits and demerits of different studies. The review will set the future course of action of different studies on pesticide exposure in Pakistan. Data limitations are still the major obstacle towards establishing clear environmental trends in Pakistan. The authors suggest that a reliable monitoring, assessment and reporting procedures shall be implemented in accordance with appropriate environmental policies, laws and regulations in order to minimize the pesticides exposure. Keywords: Pesticides, Pakistan, Exposure, Poisoning, Maximum contaminant level (MCL)

Financial management pursues two sorts of goals-profit maximization and wealth maximization. One is concerned with earning profits, whereas the other is concerned with adding value. Profit maximization is an inappropriate goal because it’s short term in nature and focus more on what earnings are generated rather than value maximization which comply to shareholders wealth maximization. Wealth maximization overcomes all the limitations that profit maximization possesses. In the short term, profit maximization may pursue such action which might be proved harmful in the long run. On the other hand, wealth maximization might not seem beneficial in the short run, but in the long run-this purpose fulfills the goal of shareholders that is add value. So, whenever there is a comparison, profit maximization is inferior to wealth maximization. The focus has been made on this difference throughout the paper.

Both NPV and IRR are popular techniques of capital budgeting. The NPV of a project is exactly the same as the increase in shareholders’ wealth. This fact makes it the correct decision rule for capital budgeting purposes. IRR is the rate of return on invested capital that the project is returning to the firm. Sometimes the NPV and IRR can favor conflicting project choices. Such conflicts may be dealt with by considering the mutuality of the project, value additivity principle ,multiple rates of return and reinvestment rate assumption. In reality, using the IRR method could lead to investment decisions that increase, but do not maximize wealth. Another reason for which IRR approach might not be usable-this is when projects have unconventional cash flow patterns.

The reaction of cyclobutane-1,2-dione with hydroxide was studied by a variety of ab initio (MP2, SCS-MP2, CCSD(T), CEPA/1) and density functional (M06-2X) methods. Three possible reaction paths of the initially formed tetrahedral adduct leading to either 1-hydroxycyclopropane-1-carboxylate (benzilic acid type rearrangement, path A), α-oxobutanoate (path B) or γ-oxobutanoate (path C) were considered. Although the latter two products show similar or even more negative Gibbs free energies of reaction than calculated for the benzilic acid type rearrangement, the Gibbs free energies of activation are substantially higher. According to the calculations, the only feasible reaction appears to be the formation of 1-hydroxycyclopropane-1-carboxylate, which is corroborated by previous experimental observations.

The degree of C=C bond activation in the asymmetric bioreduction of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic esters by ene-reductases was studied, and general recommendations to render these "borderline-substrates" more reactive towards enzymatic reduction are proposed. The concept of "supported substrate activation" was developed. In general, an additional α-halogenated substituent proved to be beneficial for enzymatic activity, whereas β-alkyl or β-aryl substituents were detrimental for the reactivity of nonhalogenated substrates, and α-cyano groups showed little effect. The alcohol moiety of the ester functionality was found to have a strong influence on the reaction rate. Overall, activities were determined by both steric and electronic effects.

This paper attempts to explain female time allocation for rural women in selected districts of Pakistan. This topic is of considerable importance for several reasons. At an academic leveL the fact that the female labour force participation decision and the hours worked are jointly determined raises interesting problems of modelling and econometric estimation in taking account of the selectivity bias thus introduced into OLS estimation. At the policy level, an insight into the factors influencing female labour force participation is extremely important in a developing country such as Pakistan where the majority of females do not participate in mainstream economic activities. The objective of this study is to determine the factors affecting the optimum time allocation between market and housework of females in rural Pakistan. In a male dominated society like Pakistan with strong cultural taboos, a woman's labour force participation can be expected to depend significantly on non-market factors. In this study we examine, in particular, whether women's decisions not to work outside the home are influenced more by social norms, for example purdah and patriarchy, or by economic constraints such as lack of relevant education and training, non-availability of job opportunities and low wages etc.

Food-processing is one of the first industries developed by man. Most agricultural commodities require some sort of processing for them to be edible. In primitive societies man processed his own food using the simple mortar and pestle. With the advent of industrialisation there emerged important implications for foodprocessing technologies. The workers in the industrial and cOlllDlercial sectors of urban areas required greater supplies of food. This encouraged the establishment of processing plants supplemented by storage facilities to ensure that the urban population received the food that they required. Food-processing, therefore, began to occupy a fairly predominant position in the overall industrial sector. Its , importance was heightened by its strong backward and forward linkages with the rest of the economy. In a labour-surplus developing economy, where most of the labour is unemployed or underemployed, the absorption of this surplus labour force in the industrial sector is an important issue. In recent decades, there has been significant growth in the industrial sector in most developing countries, in terms of both investment and output. This has not resulted in a similar rate of increase in labour absorption. This is often attributed to the adoption of inappropriate technologies see, for example, Malik and Battese (1986) or to the lack of technological alternatives. In this paper we seek to determine whether capital-labour substitution is possible in the large-scale food-processing sector in Pakistan.

Pre-eclampsia or pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) re-named as gestational hypertension is one of the important causes of maternal death in developing countries like Bangladesh. The foetal outcome is also very unsatisfactory and disappointing in pre-eclamptic mothers. Considering this view, the objective of this study was to assess the foetal outcome in pre-eclamptic mothers and also to identify the factors influencing the outcome. This was a cross sectional study conducted among the pregnant mothers admitted into Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department of Shaheed Suhrawardi Hospital, Dhaka, with specific signs and symptoms of pre-eclampsia during the period from January 2002 to December 2003. A total of 100 pre-eclamptic mothers were studied. Bivariate analysis revealed that a statistically significant association was present between complicated preeclampsia (p0.05). Analysis also found that poor foetal outcome was significantly associated with haemoglobin level less than 10 gm%, gestational age and mode of delivery (p