[en] Shortage of irrigation water at critical growth stages of maize is limiting its production worldwide. Breeding drought-tolerant cultivars is one possible solution while identification of potential genotypes is crucial for genetic improvement. To assess genetic variation for seedling-stage drought tolerance, we tested 40 inbred lines in a completely randomized design under glasshouse conditions. From these, two contrasting inbred lines were used to develop six basic generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1F1, BC2F2). These populations were then evaluated in a triplicated factorial randomized complete block design under non-stressed and drought-stressed conditions. For statistical analyses, a nested block design was employed to ignore the replication effects. Significant differences (p=0.01) were recorded among the genotypes for investigated seedling-traits. Absolute values of fresh root length, fresh root weight, and dry root weight lead to select two genotypes, one tolerant (WFTMS) and one susceptible (Q66). Estimates of heritability, genetic advance, and genotypic correlation coefficients were higher and significant for most of the seedling-traits. Generation variance analysis revealed additive gene action. Narrow-sense heritability [F2 = 65; F8 = 79] revealed the same results. Generation mean analysis signified additive genetic effects in the inheritance of cob girth, non-additive for plant height, grains per ear row and grain yield per plant, and environmental for ear leaf area, cob length, grain rows per ear, biomass per plant, and 100-grain weight under drought-stressed conditions. For conferring drought-tolerance in maize, breeders can adopt the recombinant breeding strategy to pyramid the desirable genes. (Author)

[en] To assess the magnitude, causes and substandard care factors responsible for the third delay of maternal mortality seen in our unit III, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Civil Hospital, Karachi. This Cross-sectional, retrospective study was carried out on 152 mothers who died over a period of eight years from 1997 to 2004 at Civil Hospital Karachi. Death summaries of all maternal deaths were reviewed from death registers and were studied for substandard care factors which could have been responsible for the third delay of maternal mortality. The frequency of maternal mortality was 1.3 per 100 deliveries. The mean age was 29+-6.49 years and mean parity was 3.24+-3.25. The main causes of death were hypertensive disorders in 52/152 (34.21%), hemorrhage in 40/152 (26.31%), unsafe abortion in 16/152 (10.52%), puerperal sepsis in 14/152 (9.21%) and obstructed labor in 11/152 (7.2%) cases. Substandard care factors were present in 76.7% of patients, which included inappropriate management of pulmonary edema, delay in arranging blood for hemorrhaging patients and delay in surgical intervention. Substandard care factors were present in majority of cases of maternal deaths. Improvement of maternity care services in Civil Hospital Karachi is needed on an urgent basis. (author)

[en] Background: The purpose of the study is to compare the ultrasound and MRI diagnostic accuracy for the judgment of lower segment cesarean scar after cesarean for attempting the trial of labor. Aim: To measure the lower segment scar in pregnant ladies after 37th week by using Trans abdominal ultrasound and MRI Methodology: This observational case control study was conducted in the Lahore General Hospital Diagnostic Radiology Department from the period Jan 2019 to June 2020.Sample size selected was 40 pregnant ladies with prior cesarean history and want to avail the trial of labor for delivery. The thickness of scar was measured with the help of ultrasound and MRI and was also compared with the results of surgeries. Cut off value was also identified so that the normal scar can be differentiated from abnormal scar and also the comparison was made between the findings of MRI and ultrasound with intra operative results to measure the scar thickness. Results: The results of the study showed that both imaging modalities have good diagnostic accuracy and no significant difference was observed. From the study the accuracy of ultrasound was observed 96% while the MRI diagnostic accuracy was 90%.The mean age group of the participants were 28.36± 3.28 years. Scar thickness mean calculated from the findings of ultrasound was 3.34 mm ± 1.21 mm and the mean scar measurement from the results of MRI was calculated 3.4 mm± 1.14 mm. Conclusion: When compared both results in the present study it was found that the ultrasound is more convenient and cost effective option as compared to the MRI and MRI alone don’t provide any additional information about the level of scar thickness. The diagnostic accuracy of MRI from the present study was 90% and diagnostic accuracy of Ultrasonography was 96%. (author)

[en] Paper manufacturing industry is characterized by large amount of water consumption and hence high rate of wastewater generation which is concern to water pollution. This study considers the characterization of paper mill effluents for recovery in the form of Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in relation to decrease in organic waste in the form of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). For this purpose sedimentation and coagulation were applied. Coagulation was performed using ^Alum^to check its efficiency. The effects of dose rate and settling time of solids were observed for TSS, BOD5 and COD removal. The average concentrations of TDS (860-881 mg/L), TSS (822-836 mg/L), BOD (261-275 mg/L) and COD (519-550 mg/L) were determined above the permissible limits. By comparing the level of these parameters after sedimentation a visible decrease was observed. TDS, TSS, COD and BOD5 decrease by 19%, 37%, 17.3% and 18% for respectively. In coagulation treatment the decrease was 84%, 89%, 86% respectively for TSS, COD and BOD. The study observed maximum recovery in the form TSS (84%) along with BOD5 and COD. Therefore, coagulation treatment for paper recycling mill is recommended. (author)

[en] Premature bolting reduces the shelf life and marketable yield of onion bulbs. This issue is investigated in the current study. Nursery of different seedlings ages were transplanted on different dates for two seasons. Experiments were conducted in RCBD with factorial arrangements. Most of the growth and yield parameters were significantly affected by transplanting dates and seedling age. Premature bolting and unmarketable yield decreased with delay in transplanting and increased with an increase in seedling age. Two-month seedlings transplanted in mid-December gave maximum marketable yield. Transplanting 45-60 days old seedlings from 15 December to 15 January is recommended for minimum bolting percentage and highest marketable yield. (author)

[en] New O:N:S and N:S donor ligands namely, S-benzoyl-N-(o-hydroxybenzaldehyde) dithiocarbazate, S-benzoyl-N-(N,N-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde ) dithiocarbazate, S-benzoyl-N(N-thiophene-2-aldehyde) dithiocarbazate and their complexes with La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), Gd(III), Tb(III), Dy(III), Ho(III), Er(III), Yb(III), and Lu(III) have been synthesized and characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, IR, NMR and electronic spectroscopy. The nephelauxetic effect(1-βoverlined), bonding parameter, βoverlined, bsup(1/2) and Sinha covalency parameter δ, have been calculated. Their positive values indicate covalent nature of metal-ligand bond which is also supported by their molar conductances measured in nitrobenzene. Magnetic moment values exhibit paramagnetic nature of the complexes. Log K,ΔG, ΔH and ΔS values have also been ca lculated. Toxicity of the compounds has been evaluated against cockroaches and fungi(Aspergillus flavus and A. niger). The LD₅₀ and % inhibition values demonstrate greater efficacy of the complexes than that of the free bases. (author). 4 tabs., 12 refs

[en] Objective: To study the mortality and morbidity of unsafe abortion in a University Teaching Hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Unit III, Dow Medical College and Civil Hospital Karachi from January 2005 to December 2009. Data regarding the socio demographic characteristics, reasons and methods of abortion, nature of provider, complications and treatment were collected for 43 women, who were admitted with complications of unsafe abortion, and an analysis was done. Results: The frequency of unsafe abortion was 1.35% and the case fatality rate was 34.9%. Most of the women belonged to a very poor socioeconomic group (22/43; 51.2%) and were illiterate (27/43; 62.8%). Unsafe abortion followed an induced abortion in 29 women and other miscarriages in 14 women. The majority of women who had an induced abortion were married (19/29, 65.5%). A completed family was the main reason for induced abortion (14/29; 48.2%) followed by being unmarried (8/29, 27.5%) and domestic violence in 5/29 cases (17.2%). Instruments were the commonest method used for unsafe abortion (26/43;68.4%).The most frequent complication was septicaemia (34; 79%) followed by uterine perforation with or without bowel perforation (13, 30.2%) and haemorrhage (9; 20.9%). Majority of induced abortions were performed by untrained providers (22/26; 84.6%) compared to only 3/14 cases (21.4%) of other miscarriages (p=0.0001). Conclusion: The high maternal mortality and morbidity of unsafe abortion in our study highlights the need for improving contraceptive and safe abortion services in Pakistan. (author)

[en] A few lanthanide complexes of the type ML₃.2H₂O where LH is a schiff base derived from sulphanilamide and salicylaldehyde have been synthesized and characterized on the basis of their elemental analysis, infrared spectra and molar conductance measurements. The schiff base acts as a monobasic bidentate ligand and the complexes appear to be eight coordinated. The pH-metric studies have been carried out to determine the proton-ligand stability constants of the ligand and metal-ligand stability constants of its complexes at 25degC and 0.1M ionic strength. The stability constants of these rare earth complexes follow the order: Ce > Dy > Pr > Lu > Tm > Eu > La > Yb > Er > Nd > Ho > Tb > Sm > Gd. (author). 13 refs

[en] Objective: To determine the practice of transfusion of blood and blood products in cases of postpartum haemorrhage, at a tertiary referral center. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted where medical records were reviewed for women, who either delivered or were admitted in labour suite with diagnosis of postpartum haemorrhage. The study period extended from Jan 2008 to Oct 2009. During a period of 22 months, records were reviewed for transfusion of blood and blood products in above group of women. Data were analyzed for descriptive statistics. Results: During the study period, a total of 4744 patients were admitted in the labour suite. A total of 113 (2.36%) women were diagnosed with Post partum haemorrhage. Uterine atony was the commonest cause of PPH, followed by genital tract trauma. A total of 81(71%) women received transfusion of blood and blood components (1.6%). The mean blood loss was 1088 ml (+- 584ml). Transfusion of blood and blood component therapy was significantly more in women who underwent caesarean section, compared to those women who delivered vaginally. There was one case of acute tubular necrosis due to PPH, and seven maternal deaths. The mean hospital stay was of +- 3 days. Conclusion: In this hospital based study, the prevalence of PPH was 2.36 +- %, and the rate of transfusion of blood and blood products was 1.6%.

[en] Factors affecting in vitro regeneration of shoots in shoot tip explant cultures of banana cultivar 'Basrai', such as solid and liquid media, growth regulators, vitamins, and antioxidants were studied. Three-quarters strength of MS liquid medium supplemented with 17.75 micro m 6-benzyladenine (BA), 11.42 micro M indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 205 micro M adenine sulphate induced the formation of mean number of 12.3 shoots, with the mean length of 3.0 cm, after three weeks of culture. Maximum shoot multiplication (14.33) occurred in liquid medium containing 22.19 micro M BA. Addition of 2.0% activated charcoal (AC) to the liquid medium improved quality of the regenerated plants with expanded and glossy leaves, though the number of shoots was reduced (13.66). Profuse formation of roots was characteristically induced by AC. Addition of citric acid (CA) to the medium caused decline in morphogenetic expression of the cultures. (author)