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"Māh-e-Nau" is a National Magazine and is the voice of entire Pakistan. Relating to every aspect, the national head is a mirror of summer and represents the national life. "Māh-e-Nau" continued to publish articles on Islamic and local saints of religion, literature and poets and it was recognized in literary circles that the best translations of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai were presented in Mah-e- Nau. "Māh-e-Nau" has an important role in introducing this aristocracy poet. In the same way, Māh-e-Nau has the honor of presenting the translation of Waris Shah’s Marakat-ul-Arat work Heer Ranjha in same genre and in the same sea. "Māh-e-Nau" took the lead in getting it done. Apart from this, the best translations of regional songs were presented. He is also credited with introducing folk stories and song. Māh-e-Nau has always gone hand in hand with the national life. It reflects all these situations, events, and actions. In the regard, the special number of "Māh-e-Nau" were published on different topics including "Seerat Number". That Number has presented comprehensive account of biography and detailed aspects of the prophet’s life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population growth has outstripped the agricultural productivity in Pakistan which is a contributory factor in upsurge of food insecurity. Food insecurity is lack of access to a nutritionally satisfactory diet in a household or country. Household food security exists when household members have access to quality food needed for a healthy life at all times. Food processing and allied activities are important factors in promotion of food access and the production of safe and nourishing foodstuffs. In this background, training is an essential aspect of development of skills especially for women. The present study was designed to evaluate the impact of food preservation and processing trainings organized by Food Technology Section, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) at five Vocational Training Institutes during 2019. Main target of these trainings were women with an objective to educate them about value addition of different fruits and vegetables at household level particularly for awareness of availability of nutritious food all the year. Study results indicated that 66.84% respondents were under the age of 25 years with secondary level of education and utilizing their free time for capacity building in terms of expertise in food preservation and processing. Almost 12.63% attendants showed interest in entrepreneurship. Majority of the respondents (77.37 and 68.94%) were familiar only with freezing and pickling techniques before training while canning, salting and drying were least familiar food preservation techniques. Knowledge about food safety and preparation of jam, marmalade and squashes was 100% after attending the training. Present skill development training program was considered very useful by the participants for capacity development. It empowered them in confidence building, and skills of different techniques of food preservation and processing. Participants interested in entrepreneurship took this opportunity as advantageous in income generation and self-employment opportunities which could be a great factor in their socioeconomic uplift. This will ultimately help in economic growth of the country by enhancing the GDP through reducing the losses in agriculture sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was attempted at Food Technology Section, Post Harvest Research Centre, AARI, Faisalabad to develop new flavor and augment the health benefits and medicinal herbs in the form of jam. Thyme and mint were added in varying concentrations in the apple jam and different physico-chemical and organoleptic parameters were studied during storage. Significant effect of storage and concentrations was recorded for physico-chemical and sensory parameters. Acidity and total soluble solids (TSS) were increased in both thyme and mint apple jam while, pH, ascorbic acid and total phenols followed a decreasing pattern during storage. Ascorbic acid was decreased from 46.54 to 44.31mg/100g in thyme apple jam and 42.72 to 39.63mg/100g in mint apple jam whereas total polyphenols experienced a decline from 41.25 to 37.50mg GAE/100g FW in thyme apple jam and 53.41 to 49.82mg GAE/100g FW in mint apple jam. Both products remained in acceptable range in terms of sensory parameters during storage. Storage stability and acceptability showed that thyme and mint apple jams could be introduced in the market with the health benefits of both apple fruit and medicinal herbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depth to watertable continuously increases from head to tail in most of the canal commands in Punjab, Pakistan, in spite of equitable canal water supplies. In the wake of increased groundwater use with passage of time, the tail end farming community and irrigation management institutions are to confront this emerging issue very prudently. To comprehend this dilemma, canal water availability, crop water requirement and groundwater recharge across the Lower Bari Doab Canal command were analyzed. Annual rainfall decreases towards tail (212 mm) as compared to head (472 mm), in contrary, annual gross and net crop water requirement at tail end are 10.2 and 32.5% higher, respectively, as compared to head end. As a result, groundwater mining is taking place in tail end at 0.34 m/year, whereas in head end areas, the situation is stable. Actually, in tail end areas, groundwater recharge rates are considerably low as compared to the head end. Spatial climate variability across the command is the main cause for these inequities. Reallocation of canal water and/or enhancing recharge to groundwater in these relatively more water stressed areas during wet years needs to be sought, otherwise any groundwater management activity in this regard will not have any technical and social viability. Ignoring climatic variability within the canal command is one of the serious issues in irrigation system design that prevents achieving the optimal level of conjunctive water use and as a result, the highest potential agricultural output cannot be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case study is presented regarding the Masood Jhandeer Research Library (MJRL) in Sardarpur Jhandeer, Pakistan, the country's largest private library. Topics include the availability of equipment and facilities for the preservation and conservation of manuscripts and rare materials, MJRL's plans for future development, and the status of the library's collection as of December 2011.

The article presents the results of a study investigating the use of web 2.0 in libraries in Pakistan, with particular focus given to the attitudes of Pakistani information science professionals regarding the phenomenon. An overview of web 2.0 and its adoption by libraries is offered, and the study's goals and methodology are described. The findings that web 2.0 usage is rising in Pakistan and that the majority of librarians and other professionals felt positively towards it are also commented on.

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is a sub-tropical fruit having sweet, juicy and soft pulp with an attractive bright red peel. Garnered litchi fruit is highly perishable and bright red colour of the peel turns dull brown within 24 to 48 hours of harvesting at room temperature. Current study was conducted at Food Technology Section, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad during 2019. The present study was intended to check whether different organic acids could potentially be applied for slowing down the pericarp browning in litchi fruit as acidic pH could be beneficial in retarding the polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activities and maintaining the quality during storage. Lowest PPO and POD activity at the start and end of storage time was recorded in fruit samples treated with 10% oxalic acid (0.5 & 0.25 unit/mg protein and 3 and 1 unit/mg protein). Oxalic acid in 10% concentration proved best for maintaining quality parameters (acidity, firmness, ascorbic acid, total and reducing sugars, total soluble solids) during storage among all the tested organic acids and their concentrations. The information generated could be further explored for the metabolic process underlying the slowing of browning of the pericarp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wilms Tumor (WT) is one of the most curable childhood cancers. High cure rates seen in the developed countries are not reproduced in developing countries. Lack of access to cancer treatment facilities, financial constraints, late presentation, and abandonment have previously been described. We reviewed our data over the last 20 years to highlight some of these challenges., Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of children with WT at our center up to the age of 18 years between 1 November 1997 and 30 November 2017. Demographic details, presentation characteristics and treatment details were recorded. Factors associated with poor outcome were analyzed., Results: Two hundred eleven children were registered; 117(55.5%) were males. Median age at presentation was 3 (range 0 to 18) years. Presentation data were available for 184/211 patients, staging details for 159/211 and metastatic status for 178/211. Of the available dataset, 60% presented without prior treatment, whereas 40% presented atleast after primary surgical excision. High-stage (stage III or above) disease was present in 79 (49.7%) patients; 61 (34.3%) was presented with metastases or recurrence; 63 (29.8%) abandoned or refused treatment; 99/172 (57.6%) patients finished treatment, 23 (13.4%) died during treatment, and 6 died before treatment. Of the 99 patients who finished treatment 83 (83.8%) are well off therapy; 15(15.2%) relapsed; 6 (40%) are alive after salvage therapy, while 9 (60%) died., Conclusions: Our data highlights the challenges of managing WT in resource poor environments. Prior surgery, incomplete staging work-up and abandonment are some of the most frequently encountered barriers. A multipronged approach is required to overcome these challenges., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Low- and middle-income countries sustain the majority of pediatric cancer burden, with significantly poorer survival rates compared to high-income countries. Collaboration between institutions in low- and middle-income countries and high-income countries is one of the ways to improve cancer outcomes., Methods: Patient characteristics and effects of a pediatric neuro-oncology twinning program between the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada and several hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan over 7 years are described in this article., Results: A total of 460 patients were included in the study. The most common primary central nervous system tumors were low-grade gliomas (26.7%), followed by medulloblastomas (18%), high-grade gliomas (15%), ependymomas (11%), and craniopharyngiomas (11.7%). Changes to the proposed management plans were made in consultation with expert physicians from the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. On average, 24% of the discussed cases required a change in the original management plan over the course of the twinning program. However, a decreasing trend in change in management plans was observed, from 36% during the first 3.5 years to 16% in the last 3 years. This program also led to the launch of a national pediatric neuro-oncology telemedicine program in Pakistan., Conclusions: Multidisciplinary and collaborative efforts by experts from across the world have aided in the correct diagnosis and treatment of children with brain tumors and helped establish local treatment protocols. This experience may be a model for other low- and middle-income countries that are planning on creating similar programs., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: To determine outcome of first relapse of Hodgkin lymphoma with standard dose chemotherapy, and to identify the prognostic factors predicting survival outcome in paediatric patients., Methods: The retrospective study was conducted at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan, and comprised data of Hodgkin lymphoma patients who relapsed at least 3 months after the completion of initial treatment from January 2001 to December 2010. Probabilities of overall survival, event-free survival and cumulative incidence were calculated. Data was analysed using SPSS 21., Results: Of the 43 patients, 31(72%) were males and 12(29%) were females. Mean age at relapse was 11±3.3 years (range: 4-17 years). In 31(72%) patients, early post-operative intraperitoneal chemotherapy was employed. Median follow-up of the cohort was 62 months (interquartile range: 4-187 months). Overall survival and event-free survival at 10 years was 23(54%) and 15(35%) respectively. On univariate analysis, initial disease stage (p=0.021), stage at relapse (p=0.003), treatment protocol (p=0.005), treatment responsiveness at initial two cycles of salvage chemotherapy (p=0.002) and at the end of treatment assessment (p=0.0009) were statistically significant factors. Multivariate cox regression analysis revealed disease stage at relapse (p=0.004), chemotherapy regimen (p=0.025) and end-of-treatment disease evaluation (p=0.005) as the significant variables., Conclusions: Improved outcome with early post-operative intraperitoneal chemotherapy regimen was noted for Hodgkin lymphoma patients who had disease-free interval >2 years.

Aim: To analyze the clinical characteristics of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients and the therapeutic efficacy of French-American-British Lymphoma Malins de Burkitt 96 and the recent United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group B-cell NHL guidelines in the tertiary care hospital of a developing country., Methods: Patients aged < or =18 years registered at our hospital between January 1995 and December 2006 with histologically proved B-Cell NHL were selected for retrospective analysis., Results: Of the total of 131 patients registered, 122 patients were eligible for evaluation. Of these 95 had Burkitt's lymphoma, 22 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and five had B-cell NHL not otherwise specified. The mean age was 8.4 years. Overall 42 children had a baseline weight less than the 10th centile. A total of 37 had uric acid >10 mg/dl and 55 had a lactate dehydrogenase level >500; 73 had stage III and 31 had stage IV while only four presented at stage I and 14 at stage II. The abdomen was the commonest site of disease. A total of 45 patients died; 28 due to infection, nine due to tumor lysis syndrome and six of uncontrolled disease. All deaths occurred within an average of 35 days from starting treatment. Our 5-year overall survival rate was 68 percent and our event-free survival was 55 percent., Conclusion: Late presentation with advanced disease, poor nutritional status and high risk of exposure to infective agents all contribute to the high mortality in patients treated with intensive protocols in resource-poor countries.