University of Wah

About: University of Wah is a education organization based out in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Per capita income & Rhizobacteria. The organization has 258 authors who have published 466 publications receiving 4719 citations.

Isolation and Identification of UTI Causing Agents and Frequency of ESBL (Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase) in Pakistan

Abstract: Objective: The objectives of the current study were to isolated and identified UTIs causative agents. To identify the frequency of ESBL producing microorganisms. These findings will help to manage UTIs infections in Pakistani population. Methods: A total of 1050 outdoor patient’s samples were collected by the mid-stram methods. The samples were tested microbiologically by using standard procedure. Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolated pathogens was tested for commonly-used antibiotics by Kirby-Bauer technique according to NCCLS guidelines. Results: Out of these 225 (21%, p < 0.05) samples were found positive for urinary tract infection (UTI). Prevalnace was higher in female 126 (56%, p < 0.05) then male 99 (44%, p ≤0.01) with age group of 41- 50 years. Among total 199 gram negative isolates 121 (61%) were ESBL positive E Coli 68 (56%) was common followed by Pseudomonas aerogenosa 22 (18%), Klebsiella sp. 21 (17%) and Proteus sp . 10 (8%). Antibiotic susceptibilities of ESBL producing isolates were resistant to Levofloxacin 97 (80%), Tobramycin 72 (60%) and pipemidic acid 73 (60.3%) as compared to ESBL non-producing isolates. Conclusion : Overall prevalence of UTI observed in our study is 21%. E. coli was most prevalent than other organism, most common in female than male age group of 41- 50. ESBL positive were highly resistant to antibiotics as compared to Non-ESBL. This high prevalence of resistant ESBL posing a major clinical crisis of treatment failure with β-lactam antimicrobials. ESBL detection and their antibiotic susceptibility checking should be included in every pathological laboratory to restrict the over and misuse of the antibiotics and to improve the treatment and management of UTI.

Halophyte root powder: an alternative biofertilizer and carrier for saline land

Abstract: The present investigation was based on the hypothesis that the endophytes residing in the roots of halophytes have better adaptation to saline conditions. Six halophytic herbs were collected from Khewra salt range (EC = 4.7 dS m−1 and SAR = 25.7). From these herbs, root pieces of Cenchrus ciliaris were shade dried; finely ground to powder and three plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonad moraviensis, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, were isolated. Root powder in sterilized and unsterilized forms was added in the saline-sodic field on wheat and mixed with soil in pot experiment with induced NaCl (150 mM). Sterilized root powder increased organic matter NO3-N and P contents of soil and leaves, fresh weight, sugar content, and yield attributes. The root powder application in unsterilized form significantly decreased EC, SAR, and Na content of field soil with concomitant increase in soil and leaves K, P, and NO3-N. The farmer’s benefit was increased by 33% at yield. ...

Synthesis, crystal structure, spectral and electrochemical characterization, DNA binding and free radical scavenging studies of ferrocene-based thioureas

Abstract: Thioureas are important building blocks in medicinal chemistry; ferrocenes as highly hydrophobic moieties induce very interesting qualities in medicinal compounds. In this article, we have ...

A note on poverty, growth, and inequality nexus: evidence from a panel of sub-Saharan African countries

Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between growth, inequality and poverty in a panel of 42 sub-Saharan African countries by using the latest 13 household surveys, during the period of 1981–2012. The study proposed a relatively new concept of pro-poor growth, which includes both the linear and non-linear growth components in a cross-sectional time series data, called ‘Pro-equality Growth Index (PeGI)’. The results confirm the ‘negative-linear’, ‘inverted U-shaped’, and ‘negative asymptotic U-shaped’ relationship between mean survey income and inequality in different model specifications. PeGI confirms the pro-equality growth process during 1984–1987 and 1996–1999 while remaining growth phases confirm the ‘anti-equality’ growth.

Environmental impacts of FDI: evidence from heterogeneous panel methods.

Abstract: This paper investigates the effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) on environmental quality for 123 nations over the period 1996 to 2018. The study also conducts a comparative analysis for 45 developing and 78 developed nations to better understand the environmental impacts of foreign direct investment. The study employs pooled mean group (PMG) and mean group (MG) estimation techniques for investigating the impacts of FDI on environmental quality as the slope heterogeneity test rejects the null hypothesis of homogenous slope coefficients for the cross-sectional units in all country groupings. In addition, the study employs common correlated effect pooled mean group (CCEPMG) and common correlated effect mean group (CCEMG) estimation methods to tackle cross-sectional dependence in all country groupings. The results indicate that the impact of FDI on environmental emission is negative and significant for the global sample. Furthermore, the comparative analysis for developed and developing countries indicates that FDI improves environmental quality in developed nations as it leads to a lower level of CO2 emissions whereas it leads to adverse environmental impacts in the developing nations as it leads to a higher level of CO2 emissions. The empirical findings for developed and developing countries confirm pollution haven hypothesis (PHH) for developing countries while pollution halo hypothesis for developed countries. This study may help the policy makers to better understand the attributes of FDI and to devise such type of policies and regulatory framework which encourages environmentally friendly FDI or the FDI that take care of environmental quality.