Search

The logistics sector plays an imperative role in the economic development of a country. However, it can also affect environmental quality as it the viewed as a major energy-consuming sector. The current literature on the relationship between logistics performance and environmental quality is scant and most studies neglect its environmental impact in the context of emerging countries. In this context, this study investigates the impact of logistics performance index (LPI), green innovation, renewable energy, and economic globalization on the environmental quality in the 22 emerging countries. Using the panel data from 2007 to 2018, we employed the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MM-QR) for empirical analysis. The empirical results show that LPI deteriorates the environmental quality by increasing CO2 emissions across all quantiles (10th–90th). Moreover, green innovation is significantly and negatively related to CO2 emission in all the quantiles except at the 10th quantiles, while renewable energy use significantly improves the environmental quality across all quantiles (10th–90th). Economic globalization shows a significant and negative impact on CO2 emission across quantiles (10th–90th) in emerging countries. Based on these findings, this study proposes that emerging countries need to align their logistics sector policies with sustainable development goals. At the same time, more resources should be allocated for green innovation and the renewable energy sector and promote economic globalization to foster sustainable development.

Advisory organizations on cross-border mergers and acquisition deals performed as advisory governance can fill the distance between the formal institutional environment of host and home economies. This study examined the formal institutional distance between emerging and developed economies and their role in M&A initial contract ineffectiveness by expanding the phenomena of the pre-completion stage of M&A-contracts. We examine our key questions using data of 832 cross-border M&A-contracts of developed economies’ firms with emerging economies’ firms in the international business high-technology industry from 1984-2011. We find that formal institution distance explains part of the variation in the ineffectiveness of M&A-contracts. Further the gain from the external capabilities provided by advisory organizations helps in reducing the effect of institutional distance on the M&A-contract ineffectiveness.

Purpose: Microfinance institutions impose a very high interest rate only to enhance the wealth of owner of the institution and stockholders. However, Islamic microfinance is the opposite of traditional microfinance; it is a form of interest-free financing dedicated to societal well-being. The research's primary objectives are to identify public knowledge of Shariah-based microfinance and ascertain the factors that contribute to the acceptance of Islamic microfinance in Pakistan. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study investigated the significance of shariah-based microfinance in Pakistan, which is based on the Islamic financial system, and used a quantitative descriptive technique to estimate the factors. Findings: There are several factors that give to the acceptability of Islamic banking. The most important variables are: cost-benefit analysis, business support, product and service quality, religious obligation, awareness and knowledge, trust and reputation. After an examination of all the acceptability factors, it was found that each factor has an effect on the acceptability of Islamic microfinance in Pakistan. Implications: The study has various implications for policymakers wishing to promote Islamic microfinance at the national and international level.

Technology has invaded the field of education and has become a major source of gaining and spreading knowledge. Among the various technological advancements currently facilitating teaching and learning in several educational disciplines, mobile technology is noteworthy. These days, almost all students keep a mobile phone and use its applications for different purposes. With the integration of technology in education, mobile devices are also being incorporated in numerous educational disciplines including language learning. This research was carried out to study students’ perception of the impact of WhatsApp in learning English language. A questionnaire of 27 items was administered to find out the perception of 157 students about the impact of WhatsApp in English language learning. Students’ access to internet was also explored to study the influence of the availability of internet on students’ perception. The findings showed that students have a positive perception of the influence of WhatsApp in English language learning. They believe that using WhatsApp for language learning gives them confidence, improves their English language knowledge and enhances their four language skills. They also gave a positive response about the ubiquitous use of WhatsApp and their preference of using WhatsApp as compared to other teaching and learning pedagogies.

For long increasing economic growth is the major objective of macroeconomic policy makers of the country. Many studies have tried to put forward a theory which can explain the pattern of GDP growth, in this series Cobb-Douglass were most prominent in making a production function using physical capital and labor as inputs. But later studies highlighted that human capital is also a significant component of this production function. This study used three proxies for the human capital for the case of SAARC countries to see whether higher proxy has better marginal impact on the growth of the selected countries. The results for dynamic panel data models reveal that tertiary education enrollment has highest impact on growth as compare to primary and secondary education enrollment.

Objectives: To determine the presence of mandibular canal anterior loop and its length in patients reporting to a tertiary care center using Computerized Cone Beam Tomography (CBCT). Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional. Place and Duration of Study: Prosthodontics Dept., Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, From 1st February 2019 to 30th November 2019 Materials and Methods: A total of 126 subjects, between the age of 16-60 years, were selected using nonprobability consecutive sampling technique from Prosthodontics Department. Patients in whom CBCT investigation was required were selected based on exclusion and inclusion criteria. With the help of NNT viewer software presence of mandibular canal anterior loop determined. The Extent of anterior loop anteriorly into the mandible was analyzed using the measuring tool in the NNT viewer software. Results: Out of 126 patients, anterior loop was found in 19% (n=24) patients among which 7.1% (n=09) patients had on the left side and 3.9% (n=05) on the right side. A total of 7.9% (n=10) patients had anterior loop present bilaterally. The Mean ± SD extent of anterior loop on left and right side were 3.87 ± 0.88 and 3.96 ± 0.84 respectively. Conclusion: A low prevalence of mandibular canal anterior loop was observed in subjects of present study with variations in the extensions of anterior loop. CBCT imaging modality was found to be effective in the detection of anterior loop.

Objective: To evaluate the spectrum of HRCT findings of COVID-19 in RT-PCR positive patients according to duration of infection and severity of disease., Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Radiology department of Lahore General Hospital, Lahore from May to July 2020. Total 40 COVID-19 patients were reviewed for clinical features, HRCT chest findings based on time from symptom onset and CT conduction. Chi-square and fissure exact test were used for measuring association with severity of COVID-19, p value ≤0.05 was reported significant. Mean CT scores were calculated. ROC curve analysis showed threshold values of CT-SS for severe disease., Results: Of total 40 patients with age ranged from 22-83 years, 22(55%) were males and 18(45%) females. The hallmark of COVID-19 was combined GGO and consolidation, GGO alone and consolidation alone in bilateral, sub pleural and posterior distribution. Early stage had normal CT or GGO alone, intermediate and late stage had both GGO and consolidation. Septal lines/bands and crazy paving pattern were prevalent in late stage. Clinically, 24 (60%) were in severe group and 16(40%) in mild group. Severity of COVID-19 was associated with GGO alone (p=0.05), GGO and consolidation (p=0.01), crazy paving (p=0.01) and lung scores (p≤0.05). The threshold values of CT-SS for identifying severe disease by two radiologists were 18.50 and 20.50., Conclusion: HRCT manifestations along with CT-SS aids in predicting disease severity. Staging according to duration of infection is effective in understanding variation in pattern of chest findings in coronavirus disease., (Copyright: © Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences.)