This study aimed to explore the underlying relation between Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the factors that promote global citizenship among university undergraduates of Karachi, Pakistan through a mixed method approach. Globalization has had numerous and multifaceted effects on education policies and practices at various levels. Therefore, this study aimed to highlight the significance of ICT use as a tool for fostering global citizenship among university undergraduates of Karachi, Pakistan. The study also examined the impact of ICT on factors that promote global citizenship among university students. The Global Citizenship Survey questionnaire was used for quantitative data and open ended interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data. A total of 400 students from private and public sector universities participated in this study. The researcher adopted explanatory, sequential mix- method design. A non-parametric correlation analysis and chi square test revealed the positive relationship between global citizenship and ICT among undergraduate students of private and public sector universities in Karachi. Five factors emerged from the data representing a relationship of ICT with global citizenship. Regression analysis was also performed and revealed the same fact as stated earlier. The study revealed that being a developing country, Pakistani student has ICT access at their universities and they were fully well versed with ICT and its tools. They also agreed that ICT not only developing global knowledge and enhancing communication skill but also promoting respect and acceptance of cultural diversity, national and societal responsibility among them. The qualitative findings highlighted five major themes; Global Awareness, Belongings, Global Communities, Caring, and Commitment to Action. The themes of qualitative study revealed that they have a more global awareness now, ongoing injustices in the world and that’s especially about online websites helped them in getting all the knowledge and information and in gaining this their communication skills helped them a lot. Internet technologies have bridged the geographic distance that separate global communities. Global students understand, respect and appreciate different ways of life and raise their voice against the injustices happening around the world like discrimination, poverty and the unsatisfactory right to use for education. The students understood that when calling themselves global citizens they have a feeling of unity and harmony with others, they explained it as a mental attachment to other people in other places. They also showed with global learning students can integrate multiple disciplinary perspectives and their critical thinking skills welcome diversity. They bear responsibility for global issues and take action to protect and improve local and global communities. The study concluded with a focus on Praxis, offering recommendations and suggestions for practice and further research into student mobility as a site of global citizen-making.
ملا طاہر سیف الدین گذشتہ دو مہینوں میں مسلمانوں کے دو بڑے قومی حادثے ہوئے، ۵؍ نومبر کو داؤدی بوہرون کے امام ملا طاہر سیف الدین نے انتقال کیا، ان کی ذات جامع صفات تھی، بڑے ذی علم، دیندار، فیاض و مخیر اور وسیع القلب تھے، دینی علوم پر ان کی نگاہ بہت وسیع تھی، اس لحاظ سے وہ ہندوستان کے ممتاز علماء میں تھے، صاحبِ قلم بھی تھے، عربی میں ان کی کئی تصانیف ہیں، انھوں نے اپنے دور میں نہ صرف اپنے فرقہ کی بڑی تعلیمی و اقتصادی خدمت کی بلکہ دوسرے اسلامی فرقوں کے ساتھ بھی ان کا سلوک روادرانہ و فیاضانہ تھا، اور ان کو ایک دوسرے کے قریب لانے کی کوشش کی، مسلم یونیورسٹی کے تو چانسلر ہی تھے، اس کو وقتاً فوقتاً بڑی بڑی رقمیں دیتے رہتے تھے، دارالمصنفین کی جوبلی کے موقع پر اس کو بارہ ہزار کا عطیہ دیا، اس لیے ہر فرقہ کے مسلمانوں میں عزت و وقعت کی نظر سے دیکھے جاتے تھے، اﷲ تعالیٰ ان کے حسنات کے طفیل میں ان کی مغفرت فرمائے، دارالمصنفین اس حادثہ میں ان کے لائق جانشین ملا برہان الدین کا شریک غم ہے اور دعا ہے کہ خدا ان کو ان کے باعظمت والد کے نقش قدم پر چلنے کی توفیق عطا فرمائے۔ (شاہ معین الدین ندوی، دسمبر ۱۹۶۵ء)
Indonesian national low productivity of salt which is unequal between the need level and salt consumption eventually results in salt import made mainly to meet the industrial needs. The government through the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries has released a Public Salt Business Empowering Program (known as PUGAR/Pemberdayaan Usaha Garam Rakyat). PUGAR is an empowering program focusing on the improvement of job opportunities and welfare for salt farmers/managers to achieve the self-sufficiency of salt for consumptions and industries. This research aims at examining the influence of salt business empowering program on the salt farmers’ income improvement in Kedungmalang village of Jepara Regency; the implementation level of salt business empowering program in Kedungmutih Village of Demak Regency when compared to that in Kedungmalang Village of Jepara Regency; and the influence of salt business empowering program on the salt farmers’ income improvement in Kedungmutih village of Demak regency. The research was conducted using a descriptive method with a case study approach. The program implementation was quantitatively analyzed. Furthermore, the effectiveness of PUGAR on income was analyzed using T-test. The test result showed that there were income differences in Kedungmutih and Kedungmalang Village before and after the implementation of PUGAR. This finding showed that PUGAR was proven as an effective program to improve the salt farmers’ welfare through income improvement.
Cancer is a malady of uncontrolled proliferation of defected cells. Mass of irregularly divided cells might stay at one place or advances to other tissues. Many therapies for cancer are in practice including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is most extensively used method but it has severe side effects. Natural products being originated from biological resources are biological friendly and have fewer side effects so they can provide valuable template for drug development. Bistotra amplexicaulis is a famous herb used in natural therapeutics for curing many ailments especially hepatic disorders but the underlying mechanism for this activity was scientifically unexplored. The main objective was to isolate cancer chemo-preventive and/or chemotherapeutic compounds from this plant species. For initial screening of antioxidant and cytotoxic potential against HepG2 cell line, crude extract of B. amplexicaulis rhizome was prepared by using maceration technique and the percentage yield obtained was (18.72 %). Different fractions were prepared by solvent-solvent extraction of crude extract including nhexane (0.04 %), chloroform fraction (0.06 %), ethyl acetate fraction (4 %), nbutanol fraction (8 %). The capacity of plant extracts as anticancer and antioxidant was measured by employing cytotoxic assay (MTT assay) and range of antioxidant assays (DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging, superoxide scavenging, hydroxyl scavenging, and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay). nhexane fraction was proved as highly active against HepG2 cancer cell line in MTT assay with the higher percentage inhibition (89 %) at 20 μg/ml. The results of the antioxidant assays showed that ethyl acetate fraction was most active in DPPH radical scavenging assay, ABTS radical scavenging assay, total antioxidant assay, superoxide radical scavenging assay, hydroxyl radical scavenging assay with the IC50 values of (5.76 ± 0.03 μg/ml), (0.74 ± 0.1 μg/ml), (72.55 ± 0.09 ascorbic acid equivalents), (6.86 ± 0.19 μg/ml), (0.96 ± 0.16 μg/ml) respectively. On the basis of the above findings both n-hexane and ethyl acetate fraction were considered for isolation of active compounds. For the isolation and purification of compound from the active fractions of Bistorta amplexicaulis, fractions were subjected to normal phase open column chromatography, reverse phase open column chromatography, reverse phase low pressure liquid column chromatography, gel filtration chromatography and high pressure liquid column chromatography. One compound from n-hexane fraction and three compounds from ethyl acetate fraction were isolated. The chemical structure of these compounds were established by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy including proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (13C NMR) and electron spray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Compound 1 with ESI-MS (m/z 284 calc. for C16H12O5); 1H NMR 400 MHz and 13C NMR100 MHz (CD3OD) was identified as 1,5-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-7-methylanthracene-9,10-dione, compound 2 with ESIMS (m/z 574 calc. for C35H58O6); NMR 400 MHz and 13C NMR 100 MHz (C5H5N) was identified as daucosterol, compound 3 with ESIMS (m/z 290 calc. for C15H14O6); NMR 400 MHz and 13C NMR 100 MHz (CD3OD) was identified as -(-) catechin, Compound 4 with ESIMS (m/z 452 calc. for C24H20O9), white powder; NMR 400 MHz and 13C NMR 100 MHz (CD3OD) known as cinchonain Ib. Finally isolated compounds were screened for cytotoxic potential against Human non-small cell lung cancer cell line NCI-H1299. Human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SK-Hep-1 and for antioxidant potential in ABTS assay. Results indicate that compound 1 was the most potent inhibitor on SK-Hep-1 cell proliferation with 30.26 μM of IC50 value, compound 2 showed the IC50 value of 78 μM and compound 4 showed the IC50 value of 89 μM. Compound 3 was found inactive in anti cytotoxic assay. All of the compounds were also tested for their antioxidant potential in ABTS radical scavenging assay. Results showed that compound 3 had higher antioxidant potential with the IC50 value of 40 μM. This is the first report on detailed antioxidant and cytotoxic evaluation of crude extract and polarity based fractions of Bistorta amplexicaulis. This is also the first report on the establishment of protocol for the purification of two of the high market valued compounds from Bistorta amplexicaulis. Further isolation is required to find more compounds for antioxidant and cytotoxic potential. A comprehensive study on mechanism of action of compounds in in-vivo model is required. The current retail price of two of these compounds is very high so a company based on commercialization of this technology would be an industry which has the potential to create jobs in Pakistan.