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Business, IT and many other professional qualifications demand a blend of several competencies mainly categorized into human resource management, marketing, accounting and communication studies as per their specialization. The present study explores that contemporary academic-professional context requires repertoire of creative, critical and analytic interpersonal communication skills on the part of teachers and graduates to meet the target needs. Business Communication is one of the most significant subjects, taught for the enhancement of interpersonal and persuasive skills of students at university level. The purpose of this study was to find out the most significantly working interpersonal persuasive skills from the teachers' perspective at tertiary level. For the present quantitative study, 50 Business communication teachers working in different universities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi were selected as participants.The study has found that interpersonal persuasive skills are needed and to be used for the multifarious growth in learners. It is also found that the teachers do need to employ these needs to contribute positively in their pedagogical and research practices. The article provides a brief overview of communication repertoire with interpersonal communication perspective. The findings of this study can be used to enhance creativity in pedagogy and educational research in general, and particularly, in the development of effective interpersonal persuasive skills in learners.

The purpose of this study is to know the professional socialization challenges with which female English teachers are confronted in their schools during the initial stage of their career. The data was collected through survey method by using questionnaires and afterwards qualitative interpretation of the data was made on the basis of statistical results. The random stratified sampling technique was used for choosing 100 teachers from 35 schools located in the district; Sheikhupura. The study has found many personal and organizational challenges including the lack of professional trainings courses, insufficient trainings programs, deficiency of expert mentoring staff, and lack of seniors' support, lack of facilities in the organization and low level of job satisfaction. It is anticipated that the research findings would support the future researchers in understanding the complex system of professional socialization of teachers of English language in Pakistan

The purpose of this study is to know the professional socialization challenges with which female English teachers are confronted in their schools during the initial stage of their career. The data was collected through survey method by using questionnaires and afterwards qualitative interpretation of the data was made on the basis of statistical results. The random stratified sampling technique was used for choosing 100 teachers from 35 schools located in the district; Sheikhupura. The study has found many personal and organizational challenges including the lack of professional trainings courses, insufficient trainings programs, deficiency of expert mentoring staff, and lack of seniors' support, lack of facilities in the organization and low level of job satisfaction. It is anticipated that the research findings would support the future researchers in understanding the complex system of professional socialization of teachers of English language in Pakistan

Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3a is known to show comparatively better response to combination therapy than genotype 1 and 4. Mutations within NS5A gene of HCV have earlier been implicated with response to interferon (IFN) therapies in chronic HCV patients among various populations. As response to therapy are available in different populations because of the ethnic and viral factors and there was no study available on the phenomenon of resistivity to IFN. Results Chronic HCV 3a infected Pakistani patients were kept on IFN-α and ribavirin therapy for six months. NS5A gene of HCV was amplified and sequenced in the case of all the patients prior to therapy and the sequences were analysed for mutations. Out of the total 27 patients, 20 (74.07%) were observed with sustained virological response (SVR), 4 (14.81%) patients were non responder (NR) while 3 (11.11%) patients exhibited in end of treatment response (ETR). Three (3/20) (15%) SVR patients and two (2/3) ETR patients had mutations (ranging from I-V amino acids) within the NS5A ISDR regions. While the rest of the SVR patients (85%) and the NR had no mutations at ISDR region when compared with HCV K3a ISDR. Conclusions Mutations within the NS5A gene of HCV 3a genotype may not influence the outcome of combination therapy in Pakistani populations.

Hepatitis C is a fatal liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus. In this study, blood donors, from various districts of the KPK province and the federally administered tribal area (FATA) of Pakistan were tested for anti-HCV antibodies and HCV RNA by ICT (Immuno-chromatographic test), ELISA and RT-PCR. Out of the 7148 blood donors, 224 (3.13%) were positive for anti-HCV antibodies by ICT, 135 (1.89%) by ELISA while 118 (1.65%) blood donors had active HCV infection as detected by RT-PCR. We suggest that ELISA should be used for anti-HCV screening in public sector hospitals and health care units.

Prevalence of active hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in apparently healthy inhabitants of District Mansehra, Pakistan was surveyed during September, 2009 to May, 2010. Subjects of different age and gender groups were analyzed through random blood sampling from people of three areas viz; Tehsil Mansehra, Tehsil Balakot and Tehsil Oghi. Sum of 400 individuals, 300 male and 100 females with age groups from 10 years to 50 and above were included in the study. All the individuals were screened for antibodies against HCV. The positive samples thus screened, were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for detection of HCV-RNA. The results showed that 3.5% of the people of District Mansehra are actively infected with HCV whereas 7% of the population in general, has the presence of antibodies against HCV in their blood. It was also concluded that the prevalence of active HCV infection was high 4% in males as compared to females (2%). The prevalence of HCV proportionality increases with the increase in age of the people. Its incidence was highest (7.69%) in the people of the age group of 51 years and above, whereas no sign of infection was recorded for the age group of 10-20 years.

Drosophila Nanos gene plays an important role in stem cell maintenance and body patterning. With the purpose of understanding the cis-regulatory machinery involved in the transcription of the nanos gene in the germline stem cells, we examined its promoter fragment from +97 to −708 relative to the transcription start site and identified enhancer elements located between position −108 and +97. Experiments with transgenic flies revealed that the minimal promoter (from −108 to +20) is sufficient in the germline stem cells for the GFP expression in transgenic Drosophila. Moreover, the flag-tagged nanos protein blotting experiments revealed that a short promoter fragment plus some sequences of the nos 5 UTR spanning −108 to +97 could efficiently drive the expression of the flag-tagged [Nos-mRNA-nos3 UTR] transgene in transgenic flies indicating that the cis-regulatory elements located between positions −108 and +97 of the nanos promoter are sufficient to fully transcribe the nanos mRNA. Deletion of the identified cis-acting sequences from the promoter rendered it non-functional as it could no longer transcribe the nanos mRNA in transgenic flies thus revealing the importance of these sequences for the transcription of the nanos gene.

Hepatitis C is an infectious disease, caused by blood borne pathogen; the Hepatitis C Virus. In this study we analyzed blood samples collected from various risk groups for the prevalence of anti-HCV and active HCV infection with the help of Immunochromtographic tests and nested PCR. The prevalence of active HCV infection among the high risk groups was 15.57% (26/167). The prevalence of HCV in individual risk groups was 15%, 28%, 8%, 14.28% and 14.28% in the case of thalassemics, dialysis, major surgery group, dental surgery group and injection drug users respectively. Our analysis reveals the fact that health care facilities in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan are contributing a great deal towards the spread of HCV infection.

Background Studies of the molecular epidemiology and risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in health care workers (HCWs) of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region are scarce. Lack of awareness about the transmission of HCV and regular blood screening is contributing a great deal towards the spread of hepatitis C. This study is an attempt to investigate the prevalence of HCV and its possible association with both occupational and non-occupational risk factors among the HCWs of Peshawar. Results Blood samples of 824 HCWs, aged between 20-59 years were analysed for anti-HCV antibodies, HCV RNA and HCV genotypes by Immunochromatographic tests and PCR. All relevant information was obtained from the HCWs with the help of a questionnaire. The study revealed that 4.13% of the HCWs were positive for HCV antibodies, while HCV RNA was detected in 2.79% of the individuals. The most predominant HCV genotype was 3a and 2a. Conclusion A program for education about occupational risk factors and regular blood screening must be implemented in all healthcare setups of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in order to help reduce the burden of HCV infection.

Injection drug users (IDUs) are considered as a high risk group to develop hepatitis C due to needle sharing. In this study we have examined 200 injection drug users from various regions of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province for the prevalence of active HCV infection and HCV genotypes by Immunochromatographic assays, RT-PCR and Type-specific PCR. Our results indicated that 24% of the IDUs were actively infected with HCV while anti HCV was detected among 31.5% cases. Prevalent HCV genotypes were HCV 2a, 3a, 4 and 1a. Majority of the IDUs were married and had attained primary or middle school education. 95% of the IDUs had a previous history of needle sharing. Our study indicates that the rate of active HCV infection among the IDUs is higher with comparatively more prevalence of the rarely found HCV types in KPK. The predominant mode of HCV transmission turned out to be needle sharing among the IDUs.

Background Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) may progress to serious consequences and increase dramatically beyond endemic dimensions that transmits to or from health care workers (HCWs) during routine investigation in their work places. Basic aim of this study was to canvass the safety of HCWs and determine the prevalence of HBV and its possible association with occupational and non-occupational risk factors. Hepatitis B vaccination coverage level and main barriers to vaccination were also taken in account. Results A total of 824 health care workers were randomly selected from three major hospitals of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Blood samples were analyzed in Department of Zoology, Kohat University of Science and Technology Kohat, and relevant information was obtained by means of preset questionnaire. HCWs in the studied hospitals showed 2.18% prevalence of positive HBV. Nurses and technicians were more prone to occupational exposure and to HBV infection. There was significant difference between vaccinated and non-vaccinated HCWs as well as between the doctors and all other categories. Barriers to complete vaccination, in spite of good knowledge of subjects in this regard were work pressure (39.8%), negligence (38.8%) un-affordability (20.9%), and unavailability (0.5%). Conclusions Special preventive measures (universal precaution and vaccination), which are fundamental way to protect HCW against HBV infection should be adopted.

Background The structural and functional differences between hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes are the mainstay to severity, complications, treatment and possibly vaccination against the virus. This study was conducted to determine the HBV genotypes in HBsAg positive patients of Afghanistan as no such large scale data available previously. Methods Two hundred and fourteen HBsAg-positive patients were included in this study. All patients were anti-HCV and anti-HIV negative. All the samples were confirmed for HBV DNA with nested PCR while HBV DNA positive samples were subjected to type specific PCR for HBV genotyping (A-F). Results Of the total samples, 168 (78.5%) were males and 46 (21.49%) females, aged ranged between 18 to 71 years. This study demonstrated that genotype D (35.67%) is the predominant genotype circulating in Afghani's population. Genotype C was observed in 32.16% followed by genotype A (19.30%), and genotype B (7.02%) while 6.07% of the individuals were not typed. Conclusion This study has shown a heterogeneous distribution of HBV genotypes. Further more, extensive studies are required to investigate genetic and geographical divergence and characteristics of the virus in the country, as no such large sample sized study has been carried out so far in this country.

Hepatitis B is a fatal liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. In this study, blood donors from various districts of the North-western frontier province and the federally administered tribal area (FATA) of Pakistan were tested for HBsAg and HBV DNA by ICT (Immuno-chromatographic test), ELISA and RTPCR. Out of the 7148 blood donors, 244 (3.41%) were positive for HBsAg by ICT, 147 (2.05%) by ELISA while 132 (1.85%) were positive by PCR. Our data indicates that the incidence of hepatitis B has decreased in these regions in ...

2 Department of Biotechnology, Sarhad University of Science and Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan. ... 3 Department of Livestock Management, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University Peshawar. ... Abbreviations: COC, Cotton oil cake; MOC, mustard oil cake; MSC, maize seed cake; DP, dietary protein; NPN, non protein nitrogen; DIP, degradable intake protein; SIP, soluble intake protein; UIP, undegradable intake protein; GF, green fodder. ... This study was conducted to determine the effects of different diet on protein contents of cow milk. A total of one ...

Exposure of plants to long periods of water scarcity, mainly in arid and semi-arid regions, is one of the major reasons for over 50% reduction in average yields. Proper management of Brassica napus to enhance its ability to survive under drought and high temperature stress at early growth stages, besides development of tolerant genotypes, could improve its production in the rainfed areas. In the present study, we report the interactive effects of Ca 2+ , K + and N supplementation and water availability on the fresh biomass, N and C content, as well as C/N ratio of crop plants. Exposure to water stress significantly reduced the fresh biomass, Nitrogen (N), Carbon (C) content and the C/N ratio. Ca 2+ and K + supplementation before drought positively affected fresh biomass by stimulating N uptake and C assimilation. However, the C/N ratio was reduced after supplementation with Ca 2+ and K + . The N supplementation before drought imposition, though enhanced the N uptake, but the excessive damage to cell membranes and electrons leakage from Electron Transport Chain (ETC) during photosynthesis resulted in a decrease in C assimilation. Consequently, there was a decrease in the C/N ratio in seedlings exposed to drought after supplementation with N.

African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 10(18), pp. 3521-3527, 2 May, 2011 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/AJB ISSN 1684–5315 © 2011 Academic Journals ... Maize breeding for marginal lands: Physiological and ... Malik Nawaz Shuja1, Wajid Ali1, Aqib ...

belongs to the peasant family, Phasinaidea which is of enormous aesthetic value. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, five colored mutants belonging to Pavo muticus and Pavo cristatus are found. Nine (9) genotypes of the five colour mutants were analyzed by RAPD PCR for the evaluation of genetic diversity. Our results revealed that out of the total 41 amplified bands, 40 were found polymorphic. Shannon's index was found to be 0.5046 and Nei' diversity was 0.7543 while mean Nei' identity ranged from 0.36-0.73.