The development of resistance to conventional anti-typhoid drugs and recent emergence of fluoroquinolone resistance had made it very difficult and expensive to treat typhoid fever. More recently, the appearance of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) in Salmonella typhi is leading to a situation where, in some conditions, the disease may well be untreatable without extremely expensive injectables or combination therapies. As the therapeutic strategies are likely to dwindle, it becomes imperative to look for non- conventional modalities to meet any future possible challenges. Recently medical profession has rediscovered the unique and repertoire of antibacterial properties (acidity, osmolarity, hydrogen peroxide and plant derived non-peroxide activity) of honey. On the basis of these properties, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of USA and European countries approved manuka honey (New Zealand) and medihoney (Australian) as therapeutic agents for the treatment of chronic skin infections and burns. However, its role in systemic infections like typhoid fever is not determined. In addition, striking variation in the potency of antibacterial activity of honey between different floral sources and even within the same floral source does exist. Hence, it is imperative to assay antibacterial activity of honey before consideration for therapeutic use. In Pakistan, there is great diversity in honey varieties because of the richness in bee flora; therefore, it is believed that there are several unrecognized honeys of high therapeutic value in this part of the world. Twenty four blood culture isolates of typhoid salmonellae including MDR-S. typhi (n=16) were investigated for their susceptibility to manuka honey, black seed honey, shain honey and simulated honey. An agar dilution assay was adopted for the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration. Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) and Acinetobacter baumannii (ATCC 29212) were included as the standard control strains. Additionally, one hundred samples of Pakistani unifloral honey from nineteen common bee flora, produced by bees (Apis mellifera) were collected from different geographical areas of Pakistan. They were screened for both total (acidity, osmolarity, hydrogen peroxide and non-peroxide activity) and plant derived non-peroxide antibacterial activity against one blood culture isolate of multi-drug resistant (MDR) S. typhi by agar well diffusion assay. Manuka (Unique Manuka Factor-21) honey was used as standard. The total antibacterial activity of these honey samples were standardized in accordance with phenol equivalence % (w/v). Regarding MICs, manuka honey inhibited all clinical isolates of typhoidal salmonellae at concentration median 7.67+1.0% (v/v), black seed honey median 9.0±1.0% (v/v) and shain honey at median 12.0±1.0% (v/v). Simulated honey inhibited these isolates at concentration median 30±0.0% (v/v). Whereas, manuka honey inhibited all ATCC reference strains between the MICs range of 5.0 to 9.0% (v/v), black seed honey at 6.0% to 10.0% (v/v), shain honey at 10 to 14 % (v/v) and simulated honey at 30 to 35% (v/v). This demonstrates that antibacterial effect of natural honey is not linked with high osmolarity alone and there are other factors contributing to antibacterial activity. Screening of antibacterial activity of one hundred unifloral honey samples against blood culture isolate of MDR-S. typhi revealed that nineteen honey samples (19%) displayed higher antibacterial activity (16-20 % of phenol), which is more than that of manuka honey (21-UMF). Thirty percent honey samples demonstrated antibacterial activity between the ranges of 11-15% of phenol, similar to that of manuka honey and about 51% of honey samples did not exhibit any zone of inhibition against MDR-S. typhi at 50% (w/v) dilution. Since manuka honey used in this study is standardized product with 21- UMF and approved by FDA as therapeutic agent. Therefore, those honey samples which displayed antibacterial activity equal to or greater than manuka honey, may be utilized in those clinical conditions, where higher hydrogen per-oxide related antibacterial activity is needed like leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, burns, skin graft donor sites and surgical wounds. These newly identified honeys may add value to the existing honey resource. Keeping in view the tremendous variation in the potency of antibacterial activity of honey, it is essential that research may continue beyond commercially available honey to those, locally produced, as yet untested. However, none of Pakistani honey samples displayed non-peroxide activity. Only manuka honey showed non-peroxide activity when catalase enzyme was added to neutralize the hydrogen peroxide related antibacterial activity at 25% dilution (w/v). Nevertheless, MICs of black seed honey and manuka by agar dilution assay are comparable. The agar dilution assay provides more reliable, reproducible and quantitative results as compared to agar well diffusion assay which is less sensitive and only provides qualitative results. Therefore, both manuka honey and black seed honey warrants further evaluation in suitable typhoid animal model for future prevention and treatment of typhoid fever.
موضوع 9:مغربی تنقید کے اہم نام پس منظر: لان جائنس کے بعد۱۳۰۰ سال تک خاموشی رہتی ہے اور پھر "دانتے" کے آنے سے یہ خاموشی ٹوٹتی ہے۔انگلستان میں "فلپ سڈنی" ، فرانس کے "بولو"ڈرائیڈن ، پوپ، جانس، گوئٹے، ورڈز ورتھ، کولرج وغیرہ جیسے قابل ذکر نام ہمارے سامنے آتے ہیں۔ ورڈزورتھ: ورڈز ورتھ کا تعلق انگلینڈ سے تھا۔ اس کی ملاقات کولرج سے ہوئی اور مل کر سوچا جو شاعری ہو رہی ہے اس میں کوئی نئی بات نہیں ہے۔لہذا وقت کی ضرورت ہے کہ انگریزی ادب میں تبدیلی لائیں تاکہ مقصدیت کو بھی ہو۔ لوگوں کو فائدہ بھی ہوگا اس کے لیے ماحول تیار کرنے کی ضرورت ہے۔ ورڈزورتھ نے اپنی کتاب"کلیریکل بلیڈز " کے دوسرے ایڈیشن میں ایک مقدمہ یعنی تمہید لکھی۔جیسے مقدمہ شعر و شاعری میں حالی نے شروع میں جو صفحات لکھے اردو ادب میں ان کو بنیادی اہمیت حاصلہے۔ اسی طریقے سے جو تمہید ورڈزورتھ نے لکھی وہ تنقید کا پورا راستہ متعین کرتی ہے۔اس میں انہوں نے اپنا نکتہ نظر اور ماہیت بیان کی۔ انہوں نے بتایا کہ نئی شاعری کس طرح کی ہونی چاہیئے۔اس کے قواعد و ضوابط کیا ہوں۔ورڈز ورتھ کی تمہید اس اعلان سے شروع ہوتی ہے : "شاعری بادشاہوں، امیروں اور نوابوں کے لیے نہیں ہے۔اب وہ دور ختم ہوگیا جب اس بات کا خیال رکھا جاتا تھا کہ بادشاہوں کو جو پسند ہے وہ لکھا جائے۔ اب جو موضوعات اور زبان کا معیار ہے وہ لکھا جائے۔اس کے لیے کچھ اصول متعین کیے جانے ہیں۔انہی پر عمل کیا جائے گا۔ اب زبان اور موضوع شاہی دربار سے نکل کر عوام میں واپس آجائے گا۔" ورڈزورتھ نے جو تھیوری پیش کی اس کا مطلب یہ ہے کہ اب عوام کے لیے لکھیں۔ ورڈزورتھ نے لکھا کہ: "شاعری اور ادب کا مقصد عام زندگی سے موضوعات حاصل کرکے...
Pak-China relations have been exemplary in the contemporary international politics. Both States have been maintaining strong ties in terms of diplomatic and military cooperation. However, the close economic cooperation has added a new dimension in the Pak-China all weather partnership. Over the years, China and Pakistan strategic cooperation has evolved at unprecedented level. In the year 2013, the Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the construction of One Belt One Road (OBOR) that aims to connect China with West Asia, Central Asia, South Asia and Middle East. It is a bitter fact that, since 9/11 Pakistan has suffered in socio-political and especially in economic dimension. The regional security environment and rise of extremism and terrorism has resulted into the hampering economic development. Therefore, the CPEC project will prove to be game changer and when completed it will have deep impact on economic development of Pakistan in future. The CPEC provides an opportunity for Pakistan to stabilize its society and reshape its positive image at international level from fragile State to emerging economy in the South Asian region. The rise of China in economic sphere has been jealously seen by other developed countries while for Pakistan it has been a blessing factor. Thus, Pak- China strategic partnership entered into the new phase of economic cooperation that will certainly change the dynamics of the regional politics. This paper aims to discuss the multiple dimensions of CPEC its importance for Pakistan and China along with its internal and external challenges. Moreover, economic and security perspectives will be focused in detail. To fully understand the role of CPEC as driving force of economic prosperity, this paper discusses its potential as a game changer for both China and Pakistan. ___________
Learning through feedback is currently an important topic for researchers and teachers. Feedback is an important part of teaching, which is used in our daily classroom practices in different forms i.e. written, verbal and non-verbal. In the classroom, it takes place between the teacher and the students or between or among the students. Feedback is considered to be an important learning tool if it is given and acted upon effectively. This study is an effort to find the answer to the question of how a teacher can provide feedback to the English as a Second Language (ESL) primary school students in a way, which will help them to develop their writing skills. To answer the question, an action research was conducted in a classroom setting. An attempt has been made to make the feedback constructive by describing the students' actual performance, giving encouragement and specific suggestions for further improvement. Feedback was provided in writing as well as verbally. To examine the impact of the feedback the study followed a process writing approach, in which the focus of the feedback was on: content, syntax, grammar and mechanics, organization and vocabulary. The writing process involved two cycles. Each cycle had one topic comprising of three drafts. The classroom teacher's services were utilized in planning, teaching, classroom management as well as in providing feedback to half of the class. The data has been gathered through interviews, conferencing, research memos and from students' drafts. The effects of the feedback in developing students' writing skills have been seen by analyzing the drafts of eight students and by exploring their views about the feedback. The findings show that the feedback helped the students in bringing about specific changes in different areas of their writing including content, syntax, conventions, organization and vocabulary. The students who incorporated the feedback in their writing made visible improvement while those who did not incorporate it thoroughly in their writing made less improvement. The feedback was viewed as encouraging, helpful, motivating for learning, enjoyable and thought provoking, in terms of highlighting the potential for improvement in the need areas.