This study is an endeavor to explore the factors behind poor performance in the manufacturing sector (discrete/engineering sector) in particular and miscellaneous industry in general of Pakistan. Through this study, author has attempted to suggest a policy framework and development of the expert system that will improve the day to day manufacturing operations of an organization. A coherent search of literature and cohesive exploration of data from repository of GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor), Economic Survey of Pakistan etc. and other published literature reveal that poor growth rate of manufacturing sector and its dismal contribution to the GDP (Gross domestic product ) is due to the lack of adopting modern manufacturing techniques at organization level. Japanese techniques (JTs) like JIT, 5S, Kaizen, Quality Circle, TPM, Poka-Yoke, zero defect, cellular manufacturing and work improvement teams, have been adopted/implemented by manufacturing organizations in good numbers, worldwide to improve their competitiveness and performance. The nature and degree of success through the use of the above techniques has, however, been nations’ specific in general. The study also provides insight about the experience of Pakistani industry regarding the implementation of JTs. A structured instrument (questionnaire) containing both closed and open-ended questions were used for collecting the critical information. The collected data is subjected to descriptive analysis, hypothesis testing, and co-relation analysis. Besides, elucidating general information about implementation of JTs namely, post implementation ages, status of implementation, effectiveness, triggers prompting to adopt JTs and factors facilitating implementation of JTs. The investigation explodes the significant relations between various outcomes, benefits and specific techniques such as JTs. Thus the proposed expert system enables both the user and the policy maker to suggest specific technique(s) to address particular sicknesses of the industry in order to obtain desired outcome/benefit. Based on the significance of the relationships between techniques and effects, a frame work of the remedial policy has been put forth. The work forms a basis for regional and cluster specific research in future.
لوڈشیڈنگ کا عذاب نحمدہ ونصلی علی رسولہ الکریم امّا بعد فاعوذ بااللہ من الشیطن الرجیم بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم معزز سامعین اور میرے ہم مکتب شاہینو! آج مجھے جس موضوع پر گفتگو کرنی ہے وہ ہے:’’لوڈشیڈنگ کا عذاب‘‘ صدرِذی وقار! عذاب ، جزاوسزاء کا تصور ، انارکی ، پریشانی یہ ایسے الفاظ ہیں کہ جن کو پڑھ کر یا سن کر طبائع مکدّر ہو جاتی ہیں۔ مزاج میں تبدیلی آجاتی ہے، چڑ چڑاپن پیدا ہو جاتا ہے۔ طبیعت کا سکون غارت ہو جاتا ہے، آرام نام کی کوئی شے دکھائی نہیں دیتی، اطمینانِ قلبی مفقود ہو جاتا ہے، چہرۂ بشرپر پریشانی کے آثار نمایاں ہوجاتے ہیں۔ صد رِ محترم! عذاب جس صورت میں بھی ہو کھانے کو آتا ہے، اس سے کو سوں دور بھاگنے کو جی چاہتا ہے، عذاب سے مراد دل کی بے سکونی ہے، بصارت کا چندھیا جانا ہے۔ قوت ِسماعت کی کمزوری ہے، قوت لامسہ کی نقاہت ہے، اس کا وجود انسانی وجود کے لیے نفع بخش نہ ہے۔ محترم صدر! آئے دن مختلف عذابوں سے واسطہ پڑتا رہتا ہے۔ کبھی مہنگائی کے عذاب کا دیو جڑے کھولے انسان کو دبو چنے کے درپے ہوتا ہے، کبھی ڈینگی کا عذاب اپنے شکار پر گرفت مضبوط کرنے کے لیے مستعد ہوتا ہے اور ان سب عذاب ہائے زندگی سے بڑھ کر جو عذاب ہمارے سروں پر مسلط ہے وہ لوڈ شیدنگ کا عذاب ہے جس نے ہماری مسرت اور خوشی کوغم و اندوہ میں بدل دیا ہے۔ صدرِزی وقار! لوڈشیڈنگ سے مراد بجلی کا غائب ہو جانا ہے، اس سے پاکستان کی معیشت وابستہ ہے اس کی کی زندگی کے تمام شعبوں کو متاثر کرتی ہے، اس کی کمی سے تمام صنعتیں بند ہو جاتی ہیں، اس کی کمی سے ٹیکسٹائل ملوں میں کام بند ہو جاتاہے، اس کی کمی سے فصلوں...
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathway is the most commonly studied signaling mechanisms, consisting of different groups of protein kinases that participate in regularly connecting interpretation of external stimuli that can change in gene expression or cellular organization within eukaryotic systems. The MAP kinase pathways functions in plants cell signaling (intra- and extra). MAPK cascades follow a response system. MAP kinases are the component of kinase constituents that deliver signals from sensors to responders in eukaryotes including plants. Several pathways are activated under different environmental stresses. Stimulating agents may be biological (biotic) like microbial infections or environmental (abiotic) like temperatures threshold, high salt concentration, drought, heavy metal, Ultra-violet radiation, ozone gases and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The involvement of MAPK signaling pathway in different stresses has been widely studied. In this review we also try to highlight MAPK cascades, its regulation, functions and recent findings in various cellular processes against stress conditions.
Aim: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with depression in patients with epilepsy at Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi.
Design: Cross-sectional Survey
Background: Depression is a recognized common co-morbidity of epilepsy that often goes untreated and has great impact on quality of life of patients and management of patients with epilepsy.
Patients and Setting: Patients with epilepsy on follow up at the Aga Khan University Hospital were evaluated for presence and factors associated with depression.
Methodology: The study recruited eligible patients with epilepsy who were on follow up in the neurology clinic. Beck Depression Inventory was administered to evaluate for presence of depression. Patients identified as having co-morbid depression were evaluated for associated factors.
Results: Three hundred and twenty seven patients were evaluated for presence of depression in this study. The prevalence of depression based on the Beck Depression Inventory was 16.5 %, (95 % CI 12.7-21.0) representing a total of 54 patients diagnosed to have depression among the 327 patients with epilepsy. Twenty five patients (7.6%)[95% CI 5-11.1] as a subset of the total study population, had mild depression, 18 (5.5% [95% CI 3.3-8.6]) patients had moderate depression and 11 (3.4%[95% CI 1.7-5.9]) patients had severe depression.
There was weak association between mild depression and polytherapy (use of two or more antiepileptic drugs), with OR 2.3, 95%CI 0.9-5.8 however, none between polytherapy and moderate or severe depression. No statistically significant association was found between depression and duration of epilepsy or number of seizures per month over last three months.
Conclusion: Based on these results, we concluded that the prevalence of depression in patients with epilepsy at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi was 16.5 %( 95% CI 12.7-21.0) and polytherapy was weakly associated with mild depression.