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Introduction: The engagement of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with ACE2 is a critical step for viral entry to human cells, and, therefore, blocking this interaction is a major determinant of the efficacy of monoclonal antibody therapeutics and vaccine elicited serum antibodies. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants has necessitated the development of adaptable assays that can be applied to assess the effectiveness of antibody-based therapeutics. Methods: Through the testing of a range of recombinant spike proteins, we have developed a cell-based, ACE2/spike protein interaction assay that characterises monoclonal anti-spike protein antibodies and neutralising antibodies in donor serum. The assay uses high-content imaging to quantify cell-bound spike protein fluorescence. Results: Using spike proteins from the original "Wuhan" SARS-CoV-2 strain and the Delta and Omicron variants, we identified differential blocking activity of three monoclonal antibodies directed against the spike receptor-binding domain. Importantly, biological activity in the spike interaction assay translated to efficacy in a SARS-CoV-2 infection assay. Discussion: The spike protein interaction assay can be used to monitor anti-spike antibodies against the major known SARS-CoV-2 variants and is readily adaptable for quantification of the impact of antibodies against new and emerging SARSCoV-2 variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first study to estimate the effects of outward foreign direct investment (FDI) with its two modes of exit, outward greenfield FDI flows (GFDI) and cross-border mergers and acquisitions purchases (M&A), on four ecological footprints (EFs) of source (home) countries of FDI. We examine a global sample of 111 countries with the help of a dynamic panel estimator. We find that outward GFDI reduces the Consumption EF and Production EF of home countries irrespective of their level of development, confirming the reverse FDI ecological haven hypothesis, while M&A produces mixed results in developing countries. Additionally, the effects of both outward FDI types on Imports EF and Exports EF in developed countries are mostly positive, raising questions related to the management of the international production value chains and international cooperation for global protection of ecosystems. A stable planetary ecological system is critical for continuous human development. With the growing internationalization of production, the distribution of the ecological burden across countries is of enormous importance. Our study has implications for the protection of global ecosystems' services, calling for a multinational agreement for preserving planetary ecological stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was to find the relationship between the CGPA of undergraduate students and their type of schools. The main hypothesis of the investigation was of no significant difference between the CGPAs of undergraduate students and the type of school attended during secondary classes. The population of the study included several departments from Sargodha University. One hundred students were selected through a convenience sampling technique from the population. A questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics and t-test was used in analyzing data. It was found that there was a significant difference between the CGPA of undergraduate students coming out of public and private schools at their secondary level. It is recommended that standards of education in the Private sector may be compared with public sector to uplift the academic standards of both sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the effect of outbound FDI on labour market volatility and, thereby, on economic insecurity in home countries of FDI distinguishing between greenfield FDI (GFDI) and cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Using the data up to 94 countries during the period 2003–2019, we find that outward GFDI stimulate economic insecurity by increasing volatility of employment. Cross-border M&A purchases, however, decrease the labour market volatility measured both in terms of volatility of employment and hours worked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relationship between knowledge sharing and innovation performance. Quantitative survey using cross-sectional sampling was used. Sample included 355 different staff members. A questionnaire that was self-administered and was based on previously used metrics was chosen. The percentage of those that responded was 73.9%. A statistical method known as partial least squares structural equation modelling was used in order to examine and evaluate hypotheses that were proposed. The software program SPSS and Smart PLS were used in order to do the analysis on the data that were obtained. Findings reveal that knowledge sharing has a significant effect on innovation performance. In addition to this, data demonstrated a favorable and substantial association between the sharing of knowledge and innovation of both products and processes. The findings of research have significant implications for further developing and enhancing the relation between knowledge sharing and innovative performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Physiotherapists (PTs) play an important role in the well-being and physical rehabilitation of patients with long term health problems. It is important that PTs follow recommended practices that minimize the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection in providing Outpatient Physiotherapy services. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of COVID-19 among the PTs and evaluate the state of implementation of best practices in Outpatient Physiotherapy to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections during the ongoing pandemic. METHODS: A self-administered online questionnaire consisting of three sections, including section one on demographic information, section two on evaluating knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 and section three on implementing best practices as a survey tool for collecting data from PTs working in Lahore and Faisalabad in Punjab, Pakistan. RESULTS: A total of 216 completed surveys were received. Correct responses to different questions devised to test the participants' knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 varied from 58.3% to 99%. The implementation of best practices to prevent the infection transmission in the Outpatient Physiotherapy ranged from 22.7% to 92.1% for different domains. The age of the PTs and OPD setting were associated significantly with the PTs' knowledge of COVID-19 and also with the state of implementation of recommended practices to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections in the Outpatient Physiotherapy (p <.05). CONCLUSION: The majority of the PTs, particularly those working in the clinic setting, possessed a good knowledge of COVID-19 and implemented best practices in their Outpatient Physiotherapy at a good level. However, efforts should be directed towards further improving the knowledge of PTs and ensuring implementation of best practices in Outpatient Physiotherapy, particularly in government and private hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the effect of cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) outflows on government size in home countries. We focus on up to 89 developed and developing economies during the period 1996–2018. The results show that cross-border M&A outflows decrease the government size in total sample as well as in sub-samples of developed and developing countries. The results are stable across different econometric specifications and provide support to the efficiency hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines that how knowledge and perception affect Muslim policyholders of Takaful and conventional insurance businesses in developing economy. Questionnaire containing 26 items was used to gather data. The regression analysis was used and results of study reveal that awareness of Takaful holders is higher on Islamic insurance products and Islamic finance products in comparison to convention insurance policyholders. Perception of the conventional holders towards their companies is better than Takaful holders. The conventional insurance policyholders had better see products offered by their companies and companies themselves. Takaful operators will understand public awareness about Takaful and public perception of their insurance and Takaful providers it helps in policy selection for existing and future customers of Takaful and conventional insurance companies. In Pakistan, no study of such kind was conducted in the previous few years using the variables utilized in present study. Results of current investigation have practical implications for Takaful operators and conventional insurance companies operating in developing countries like Pakistan in order to revist the policies in vogue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene composite of polyaniline (PANI) emeraldine salt is systematically studied to explain its experimentally observed enhanced sensitivity for methylamine and ammonia as compared with simple PANI emeraldine salt conducting polymer sensor. The interaction behavior is studied with M062X method of density functional theory. Optimization of geometries, calculation of interaction energies, and natural bond orbital charge analyses are performed to study and explain the sensing behavior. Charge analysis is performed to know the magnitude and direction of electronic charge flow during sensing phenomenon. Frontier orbitals interaction theory is used to compare the strength of interaction of analytes with simple and composite sensors. The selectivity of both sensors toward analytes is also verified using the same theory. Absorption behavior of simple and composite sensors against incident electromagnetic radiations is also studied before and after sensing. Non‐covalent interaction analysis is performed to identify and distinguish different types of attractive and repulsive forces present within addition products. It is concluded that graphene composited PANI sensor shows greater sensitivity toward considered analytes as compared with PANI emeraldine salt sensor and this outcome is in agreement with reported results based on experimental observations. The better efficiency of composite sensor is due to direct interaction of analytes with graphene in addition to their interaction with PANI conducting polymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to observe the relationship between managerial efficiency (ME) and corporate leverage policy. We use data from Pakistani listed firms from 1999 to 2018. In our stepwise methodology, initially, we used data envelopment analysis (DEA) to acquire firm total efficiency (FTE) scores and then Tobit regression to acquire residual values. These residual values are used as a proxy of ME. After employing various definitions of leverage and fixed effect regression technique, the study observes that ME has a positive and significant relationship with leverage. It indicates that efficient managers are more inclined towards debt financing. It also implies that restraining managerial discretion through debt financing may also make them efficient. Therefore, finding partially approves the agency perspective in the case of Pakistan. Overall, this study offers theoretical contributions to better understand the role of ME and leverage, and the use of DEA approach. Further, this study is fundamental to observe the ME and leverage concerning agency theory in general, and specifically in the context of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research seeks to analyse Amitav Gosh's novel Sea of Poppies in order to explore the sociolinguistic strategy of code-switching with respect to its various types. The term 'code-switching' denotes the connection of elements from multilingual interaction. This phenomenon has been approached by various sociolinguists, linguists, anthropologists and sociologists. It refers to mixing between various languages to a certain extent that confuses the traditional sociolinguistic conventions. The study also focuses on the close ties between various languages and their strong impact on structure of Standard English as manifested in the selected text. The research is qualitative and descriptive, and the data has been taken from the textual conversations and dialogues of various characters of the novel. It attempts to classify code-switching into its different types exemplified by the selected data. This research attempts to highlight the variety of English language used in the literary milieu of contemporary India. It explores the text through application of Charlotte Hoffmann's theory proposed in her 1991 book An Introduction to Bilingualism. Moreover, content analysis as a research method is used to trace the presence of code-switching in certain words, dialogues and conversations between the characters. It finds out the distinct varieties of English (Pakistani and Indian) as mininarratives against the single Standard English in order to explore that English Indian fiction writers use native words in their work/novels to describe local lifestyles, culture, food, relationships, and religion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anxiety is defined as a futureoriented mood state during which one is prepared to attempt to address approaching negative events. Stress in patients planning surgery in important as it can influence their decision to seek or delay medical care. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and factors causing anxiety in preoperative period in patients undergoing major elective surgery procedures. Materials and Methods: This multi-centered cross-sectional study was carried out Rawalpindi medical university allied hospitals from January 2018 to June 2018. We selected 363 patients of elective hernia repair surgery and thyroid surgery for the study. Structured Performa was used to obtain demographic data and factors contributing to anxiety. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure anxiety and a score of ≥45 was considered as high anxiety. Data was entered and analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software, version 22.Two sided Chi square test was used to determine the statistical significance between anxiety and gender Results: 228 (62.8 %) patients had preoperative anxiety score > 45. There was significant correlation (x2=0.005) between female gender and preoperative anxiety. Among the common reasons for preoperative anxiety in respondents were the fear of surgery being postponed 240 (69.9%), Nakedness on operating table 207 (57.7%) Not waking up from surgery 194 (54%), Inability to pay hospital bills 193 (53.8%). Conclusion: Patients in our setting experience significantly high levels of preoperative anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the effects of greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) and cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As) on government size in host countries of FDI. Using panel data for up to 130 countries for the period from 2003 to 2011, the study specifically tests thecompensation hypothesis, suggesting that by increasing economic insecurity, economic openness leads to larger government size. It is found that greenfield FDI increases labour market volatility and thereby economic insecurity while M&As are not significantly associated with labour market volatility. The main results of this study are that greenfield FDI has a robust positive effect on government size, while M&As have no statistically significant effect on government size in the total sample of developed and developing countries, as well as in the sub-samples of developed and developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We examine the effects of greenfield FDI and cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As) on total factor productivity ( TFP) in developed and developing host countries of FDI. Using panel data for up to 123 countries over the period from 2003 to 2011, we find that greenfield FDI has no statistically significant effect on TFP, while M&As have a positive effect on TFP in the total sample. Greenfield FDI and M&As both appear to be ineffective in increasing TFP in the subsample of developing countries. In contrast, M&As have a strong and positive effect on TFP in the subsample of developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-based suspension of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and dextran coated AgNPs (dextran-AgNPs) are fabricated and characterised for intravenous administration. A simple method for radiolabelling of nanoparticles with 99mTc was used. Labelling efficiency for AgNPs and dextran-AgNPs was found to be more than 80 and 88%, respectively. In vivo tissue uptake of nanoparticles during dynamic phase, after systematic administration by biodistribution analysis with single-photon emission computed tomography imaging has been evaluated. Biodistribution analysis revealed that 99mTc-AgNPs and 99mTc-dextran-AgNPs are mainly accumulated in liver/spleen region but 99mTc-dextran-AgNPs delayed recognition and uptake by liver. Results indicate that dextran-AgNPs are able to evade reticuloendothelum system with enhanced blood retention time. Accumulation of nanoparticles in liver/spleen region implicates the utilisation of AgNPs for liver cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study investigated the psychosocial risk factors of myocardial infarction and time related adverse effects of administration of streptokinase on short-term morbidity and mortality in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: One hundred patients with STEMI treated with streptokinase in the hospital setting were prospectively enrolled in the study. The primary outcome parameter was the incidence of major adverse cardiac events. During hospital stay the psychosocial and demographic risk factors were also investigated. Results: The overall mortality rate was similar in both groups and it was not significant. (5.7% vs 14.5%; P = 0.18). The number of recurrent chest pain was significantly higher in the group 2 compared to the group 1 (25% vs 62.5%; P = .01). The number of hypotesion was significantly higher in the group 1 as compared to the group 2 (30.7% vs 6.2%; P = .009). The demographic and psychosocial risk factors were recorded. Conclusions: The early intravenous administration of streptokinase in the hospital setting leads to a reduced rate of major cardiovascular events compared to delayed administration beyond 2 hours. However, mortality rates were not significantly affected. Secondary prevention should be targeted on modifiable demographic, dietary, and psychosocial risk factors of STEMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the effects of greenfield investment and M&As on domestic investment using panel data for 100 developing countries for the period 2003 to 2011. It is shown that while cross-border M&As do not have a significant effect on domestic investment, greenfield FDI has a large crowding-out effect. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Phenylalanine and tyrosine are precursor amino acids required for the synthesis of dopamine, the main neurotransmitter implicated in the neurobiology of schizophrenia. Inflammation, increasingly implicated in schizophrenia, can impair the function of the enzyme Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH; which catalyzes the conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine) and thus lead to elevated phenylalanine levels and reduced tyrosine levels. This study aimed to compare phenylalanine, tyrosine, and their ratio (a proxy for PAH function) in a relatively large sample of schizophrenia patients and healthy controls. Methods: We measured non-fasting plasma phenylalanine and tyrosine in 950 schizophrenia patients and 1000 healthy controls. We carried out multivariate analyses to compare log transformed phenylalanine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine:tyrosine ratio between patients and controls. Results: Compared to controls, schizophrenia patients had higher phenylalanine (p<0.0001) and phenylalanine: tyrosine ratio (p<0.0001) but tyrosine did not differ between the two groups (p = 0.596). Conclusions: Elevated phenylalanine and phenylalanine:tyrosine ratio in the blood of schizophrenia patients have to be replicated in longitudinal studies. The results may relate to an abnormal PAH function in schizophrenia that could become a target for novel preventative and interventional approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To explore the efficacy of ethanolic leaf extract of Typhonium trilobatum L. Schott in treating diarrhea, pain and inflammation using experimental models. Methods: In the present study, acetic acid-induced writhing, xylene-induced ear edema and castor oil-induced diarrheal model were used to evaluate the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrheal activities, respectively. Acute toxicity test was carried out to fix the safe doses of the plant extract. Results: The plant extract demonstrated a significant inhibition of writhing (P < 0.01) compared with the control group in acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice. The extract also significantly inhibited the xylene induced ear edema formation (P < 0.05). In anti-diarrheal test, the extract significantly decreased the frequency of defecation and increased the mean latent period (P < 0.01) in castor oil-induced diarrheal model mice at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight. Conclusions: These results suggest that the extract possesses significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrheal activities that support to the ethnopharmacological uses of this plant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A considerable fraction of the female workforce worldwide is making ends meet by doing various jobs informally at home or in nearby places, rather than at employers' premises. The contribution of these female home-based workers (FHBWs) is significant to the country's economic growth. FHBWs are often confronted with numerous occupational diseases due to a lack of awareness of occupational safety and health measures, and unhealthy living and working conditions. The informality of FHBWs prevents them from getting proper healthcare, safety, and other dispensations enjoyed by formal employees. Despite their undeniable importance, health issues of FHBWs are still overlooked. This study is an attempt to discover the frequent co-occurring occupational diseases encountered by FHBWs in Punjab, a province of Pakistan. Frequent itemset mining (FIM) or co-occurrence grouping is a technique of data science that identifies the associations among different entities in the data. Based on FIM, the D-GENE algorithm is applied in this study to efficiently discover frequent co-occurring diseases in the data obtained from the Punjab Home-based Workers Survey (2016). The far-reaching goal of the study is to bring awareness of the occupational health issues and safety risks to the health authorities as well as to the FHBWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]