Bans on women's voting: An intersection of caste, gender, and class in Punjab, Pakistan

Safdar Muhammad Rizwan,Yousaf Farhan Navid,Ahmed Akhlaq,Akbar Muhammad Siddique,Asif Muhammad 한국외국어대학교 국제지역연구센터 2023 International Area Studies Review Vol.26 No.3

Pakistan ranks lowest in women's vote-casting turnout on the global gender gap index in South Asia. Political participation of women is consistently low and there is a quite obvious gender gap in voting throughout Pakistan's constituencies. One of the most important reasons behind this gap in voter turnout is the informal bans on women to cast their votes. This qualitative study unpacks the interplay of caste, patriarchy, and normative stances of Pakistani society to understand bans on women's vote-casting rights. The researchers argue that caste pride intersects gender and class in a dominantly patriarchal socio-political environment and prevents women to cast their votes. In the light of findings, the study also suggests a few constructive measures for authorities to sort out this burning issue in Punjab.

Effect of multi-enzymes supplementation on growth performance, meat quality, ileal digestibility, digestive enzyme activity and caecal microbiota in broilers fed low-metabolizable energy diet

Yaqoob Muhammad Umar,Yousaf Muhammad,Iftikhar Mubashir,Hassan Safdar,Wang Geng,Imran Safdar,Zahid Muhammad Umer,Iqbal Waqar,Wang Minqi 아세아·태평양축산학회 2022 Animal Bioscience Vol.35 No.7

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of using low energy diet with multi-enzymes supplementation on different biological parameters in broilers. Methods: Three hundred Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly divided into three groups (Cont, standard metabolizable energy(ME); L-ME, ME reduced by 50 kcal/kg without enzyme; and L-ME-MES, L-ME diet was supplemented with multi-enzymes) with five replicates per group (20 chicks per replicate) at the start of second week. Grower and finisher diets were formulated according to breed specific guide and offered with free access in respective phase (two weeks for grower [8 to 21 d]; two weeks for finisher [22 to 35 d]). External marker method was used to measure the nutrient digestibility. After feeding trial, fifteen birds (one bird per replicate) were selected randomly and slaughtered for samples collection. Results: The results exhibited no effect (p>0.05) of dietary treatments on all parameters of growth performance, carcass traits, relative weight of internal organs except bursa and overall parameters of thigh meat quality. Relative weight of bursa was significantly (p<0.05) higher in L-ME than control. Multi-enzymes supplementation in low-ME diet significantly (p<0.05) improved the breast meat pH 24 h, digestibility of crude protein, duodenum weight and length, jejunal morphology, counts of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp., lipase and protease activities than control. Jejunum length was increased in both L-ME and L-ME-MES treatments than that of the control (p<0.05). Breast meat cooking loss and color lightness was lower in L-ME (p<0.05) than control. Conclusion: It can therefore be concluded that broilers could be reared on low energy diet with supplementation of multi-enzymes without compromising the growth performance. In addition, it is beneficial for other biological parameters of broilers. Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of using low energy diet with multi-enzymes supplementation on different biological parameters in broilers.Methods: Three hundred Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly divided into three groups (Cont, standard metabolizable energy(ME); L-ME, ME reduced by 50 kcal/kg without enzyme; and L-ME-MES, L-ME diet was supplemented with multi-enzymes) with five replicates per group (20 chicks per replicate) at the start of second week. Grower and finisher diets were formulated according to breed specific guide and offered with free access in respective phase (two weeks for grower [8 to 21 d]; two weeks for finisher [22 to 35 d]). External marker method was used to measure the nutrient digestibility. After feeding trial, fifteen birds (one bird per replicate) were selected randomly and slaughtered for samples collection.Results: The results exhibited no effect (p>0.05) of dietary treatments on all parameters of growth performance, carcass traits, relative weight of internal organs except bursa and overall parameters of thigh meat quality. Relative weight of bursa was significantly (p<0.05) higher in L-ME than control. Multi-enzymes supplementation in low-ME diet significantly (p<0.05) improved the breast meat pH 24 h, digestibility of crude protein, duodenum weight and length, jejunal morphology, counts of <i>Lactobacillus</i> spp. and <i>Bifidobacterium</i> spp., lipase and protease activities than control. Jejunum length was increased in both L-ME and L-ME-MES treatments than that of the control (p<0.05). Breast meat cooking loss and color lightness was lower in L-ME (p<0.05) than control.Conclusion: It can therefore be concluded that broilers could be reared on low energy diet with supplementation of multi-enzymes without compromising the growth performance. In addition, it is beneficial for other biological parameters of broilers.

Effect of partially replacing soybean meal with sunflower meal with supplementation of multienzymes on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, ileal digestibility, digestive enzyme activity and caecal microbiota in broilers

Yaqoob Muhammad Umar,Yousaf Muhammad,Imran Safdar,Hassan Safdar,Iqbal Waqar,Zahid Muhammad Umer,Ahmad Naveed,Wang Minqi 아세아·태평양축산학회 2022 Animal Bioscience Vol.35 No.10

Objective: An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of partially replacing soybean meal (SBM) with sunflower meal (SFM) with added exogenous multienzymes (MEs) on various biological parameters in broilers. Methods: One week-old, 400 broiler chicks were randomly divided into four treatments (control, 3SFM, 6SFM, and 9SFM) with 5 replicates/treatment (20 chicks/replicate). Control diet was without SFM and MEs, while diets of 3SFM, 6SFM, and 9SFM treatments were prepared by replacing SBM with SFM at levels of 3%, 6%, and 9%, respectively, and were supplemented with MEs (100 mg/kg). Feeding trial was divided into grower (8 to 21 day) and finisher phases (22 to 35 day). External marker method was used to measure the nutrient digestibility. At the end of trial, twenty birds (one birds per replicate) with similar body weight were slaughtered for samples collection. Results: No significant effect of dietary treatments was found on all parameters of growth performance and carcass characteristics, except relative weight of bursa. Weight (25.0 g) and length (15.80 cm) of duodenum were significantly (p<0.05) higher in 3SFM than control. Lowest (p<0.05) villus height/crypt depth ratio was found in 3SFM and 9SFM than control. Most of meat quality parameters remained unaffected, however, highest pH of breast meat (6.16) and thigh meat (6.44) were observed in 9SFM and 3SFM, respectively. Lowest (p<0.05) cook loss of thigh meat was found in 6SFM (31.76%). Ileal digestibility of crude protein was significantly (p<0.05) higher in 3SFM (72.35%) than control (69.46%). In addition, amylase (16.87 U/mg) and protease (85.18 U/mg) activities were significantly (p<0.05) higher in 3SFM than control. However, cecal microbial count remained unaffected. Conclusion: Partial replacement (up to 9%) of SBM with SFM, with added MEs can help to improve the nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, and digestive enzyme activities without affecting cecal microbial count and growth performance in broilers. Objective: An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of partially replacing soybean meal (SBM) with sunflower meal (SFM) with added exogenous multienzymes (MEs) on various biological parameters in broilers.Methods: One week-old, 400 broiler chicks were randomly divided into four treatments (control, 3SFM, 6SFM, and 9SFM) with 5 replicates/treatment (20 chicks/replicate). Control diet was without SFM and MEs, while diets of 3SFM, 6SFM, and 9SFM treatments were prepared by replacing SBM with SFM at levels of 3%, 6%, and 9%, respectively, and were supplemented with MEs (100 mg/kg). Feeding trial was divided into grower (8 to 21 day) and finisher phases (22 to 35 day). External marker method was used to measure the nutrient digestibility. At the end of trial, twenty birds (one birds per replicate) with similar body weight were slaughtered for samples collection.Results: No significant effect of dietary treatments was found on all parameters of growth performance and carcass characteristics, except relative weight of bursa. Weight (25.0 g) and length (15.80 cm) of duodenum were significantly (p<0.05) higher in 3SFM than control. Lowest (p<0.05) villus height/crypt depth ratio was found in 3SFM and 9SFM than control. Most of meat quality parameters remained unaffected, however, highest pH of breast meat (6.16) and thigh meat (6.44) were observed in 9SFM and 3SFM, respectively. Lowest (p<0.05) cook loss of thigh meat was found in 6SFM (31.76%). Ileal digestibility of crude protein was significantly (p<0.05) higher in 3SFM (72.35%) than control (69.46%). In addition, amylase (16.87 U/mg) and protease (85.18 U/mg) activities were significantly (p<0.05) higher in 3SFM than control. However, cecal microbial count remained unaffected.Conclusion: Partial replacement (up to 9%) of SBM with SFM, with added MEs can help to improve the nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, and digestive enzyme activities without affecting cecal microbial count and growth performance in broilers.

Gender in Hamid’s Fiction

Muhammad Safdar,Muhammad Usman Ghani 숙명여자대학교 아시아여성연구원 2018 Asian Women Vol.34 No.2

Modern women are not satisfied with the roles traditionally ascribed to them as obligatory; they rather feel stifled by them. Pakistani women, especially urban women with global exposure, are no exceptions. Hamid’s two novels under study, Moth smoke (2000) and How to get filthy rich in rising Asia (2013), underline the evolving cultural transformation in Pakistan regarding female sexuality and gender in the wake of global cultural interactions. Based on the postmodern theories of fluid and performatively differential identity by cultural theorist Homi K Bhabha and feminist theorist Judith Butler, this study seeks to analyze the transformation of the urban Pakistani woman who is constantly exposed to global cultures by means of globalization and is influenced to redefine her sexuality and gender, through textual analysis of the major female characters of Hamid’s two novels referenced above. The study also analyses how the modern Pakistani woman, embarked on her journey to self-fulfilment, defies the religio-culturally sacred institutions of wifehood and motherhood, finding them to be restrictive. However, the resisting impact of the place (i.e., Pakistan) is also obvious; these displaced women are not totally without feelings of anxiety. In addition to contributing to the contemporary discourse on the blurring of boundaries caused by the increasing connection between spatial scales, particularly the local and the global, this paper attempts to make a contribution in the areas of fluidity in sexuality and gender in Pakistani context.

A comprehensive review on phytochemistry, bioactivity and medicinal value of bioactive compounds of pomegranate (Punica granatum)

Muhammad Modassar Ali Nawaz Ranjha,Bakhtawar Shafique,Lufeng Wang,Shafeeqa Irfan,Muhammad Naeem Safdar,Mian Anjum Murtaza,Muhammad Nadeem,Shahid Mahmood,Ghulam Mueen-ud-Din,Hafiz Rehan Nadeem 경희대학교 융합한의과학연구소 2023 Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine Vol.23 No.1

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) acts as a therapeutic fruit possessing different bioactive compounds. Different compartments of pomegranate (P. granatum) like seed, peel, juice and leaves are rich in potential bioactive compounds. Pomegranate contains sinapyl, coniferyl, ellagic acid, cinnamic acid, genistein, linoleic acid, anthocyanin, gallic acid, catechin, quercetin, rutin, kaempferol, cyanidin, punicalin, delphinidin, punicalagin, chlorogenic acid, coumaric acid, luteolin and pelletierine alkaloids, flavonoids, anthocyanin and caffeic acid. Pomegranate also exhibits significant anti-oxidative, anti-hypertensive, cardioprotective and anti-diabetic properties and anti-carcinogenic possessions including prevention of prostate cancer; reduction in colon inflammation, prevention of skin tumorigenesis, improvement in renal function and reduction in metastatic melanoma growth. This review summarizes the current available data on the phytochemistry, bioavailability and therapeutic importance of potential bioactive compounds of pomegranate.

Efficient degradation of organic dyes by heterogeneous cefdinir derived silver nanocatalyst

Muhammad Safdar,Yasmeen Junejo,Aamna Balouch 한국공업화학회 2015 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.31 No.-

Cefdinir derived silver nanocatalyst (Cef-Ag (0) NPs) was successfully synthesized in aqueous solution byefficient one-pot method and effectively employed for the ultrafast catalytic degradation of Rose Bengaland Eosin Gelblich dyes. The improvement was achieved in percent degradation of toxic dyes by varyingand optimizing reaction time, and amount of catalyst reducing agent concentration. The catalytic studyrevealed that complete reduction 99.9% of dye was accomplished in short period of reaction time (60 s)by efficient cefdinir derived silver nanoparticles. The calculated K (rate constant) value for RB and EGcatalytic degradation was achieved 7 10 2 and 10 10 2 s 1, respectively by plotting lnC vs time (s)and result show that reaction is following first order kinetics.

Multifaceted Therapeutic Effects of Saponins: Targeting Inflammation, Angiogenesis, Antioxidant Defense, and Apoptosis for Cancer Prevention and Treatment in Human Cells

Muhammad Imran KHAN,Eunsun JEONG,Muhammad Zubair KHAN,Jin Hyuk SHIN,Muhammad Safdar HUSSAIN,Jong Deog KIM 한국생물공학회 2023 한국생물공학회 학술대회 Vol.2023 No.10

In vitro anticancer activities of Withania coagulans against HeLa, MCF-7, RD, RG2, and INS-1 cancer cells and phytochemical analysis

Muhammad Maqsood,Rahmatullah Qureshi,Masroor Ikram,M. Sheeraz Ahmad,Bushra Jabeen,Muhammad Rafique Asi,Junaid Ahmed Khan,Safdar Ali,Lothar Lilge 한국한의학연구원 2018 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.7 No.2

Background: The Pakistani Salt Range has a rich floral diversity including Withania coagulans from the Solanaceae family. Methods: The crude methanolic extracts of the root, leaf, leaf stalk, and fruit of this plant were screened for their cytotoxic activity against human (HeLa, MCF-7, RD) and rat (RG2 and INS-1) cancer cell lines at 20 μg/mL and compared to methotrexate. The IC50 values indicated that leaf stalk and fruit extracts exert an 80% or higher cytotoxic activity against all cell lines at 24 hours. Results: The leaf stalk extract showed the highest cytotoxic efficacy against all tested cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 0.96 ± 0.01 μg/mL to 4.73 ± 0.05 μg/mL followed by the fruit extract with IC50 values of 0.69 ± 0.01–6.69 ± 0.06 μg/mL after 48–72 hours incubation. The leaf stalk and seed extracts were analyzed for polyphenols and flavonoids using RP-HPLC. The total flavonoid content (TFC) was calculated for all tested samples, and the highest TFC was recorded for the root extract (394.34 ± 1.26 μg/g). The total phenolic content (TPC) was found in the seed extract (307.86 ± 9.42 μg/g) of W. coagulans. The highest contents of myricetin (358.46 ± 2.91 μg/g) were noted in the leaf extract, and highest quercetin was recorded in the seed extract (21.43 ± 0.13 μg/g). The highest gallic acid concentration (83.62 ± 0.71 μg/g) was recorded in leaf stalk extract and p-hydroxybenzoic acid in the seed extract (157.46 ± 1.43 μg/g). Conclusion: The present study gives a scientific insight and comparative analysis of various plant parts in this medicinally important plant species from the Salt Range of Pakistan against both human and rat cancer cells.

Arsenic removal by natural and chemically modified water melon rind in aqueous solutions and groundwater

Shakoor, Muhammad Bilal,Niazi, Nabeel Khan,Bibi, Irshad,Shahid, Muhammad,Sharif, Fakhra,Bashir, Safdar,Shaheen, Sabry M.,Wang, Hailong,Tsang, Daniel C.W.,Ok, Yong Sik,Rinklebe, Jö,rg Elsevier 2018 The Science of the total environment Vol.645 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Contamination of groundwater with toxic arsenic (As) has become an emerging health and environmental problem around the world, which has seen significant attention amongst the scientists for development of new sorbents to remediate As-contaminated water. Here, we explored the arsenate (As(V)) and arsenite (As(III)) sorption to natural water melon rind (WMR), xanthated WMR and citric acid-modified WMR in aqueous solutions, and determined potential of the most potent sorbent for As removal in groundwater. Xanthated WMR (X-WMR) showed relatively higher As(V) and As(III) removal than the citric acid modified WMR (CA-WMR) and natural WMR. The maximum As(III) (99%) and As(V) (98%) removal was obtained at pH 8.2 and 4.6, respectively, by X-WMR at 4 mg L<SUP>−1</SUP> initial As(V) and As(III) concentrations and sorbent dose of 1 g L<SUP>−1</SUP>. Langmuir isotherm model best fitted (<I>R</I> <SUP> <I>2</I> </SUP> of up to 0.96) the data both for As(III) and As(V) sorption to X-WMR. Sorption kinetics of As(V) and As(III) was well described (<I>R</I> <SUP> <I>2</I> </SUP> of up to 0.99) by the pseudo second-order model on surface of the X-WMR. Thermodynamic investigations revealed that As(V) and As(III) sorption was endothermic and spontaneous. The FTIR spectroscopy depicted the presence of different surface function groups (OH, COOH, S-bearing (C=S, S=O and S–S)) which were involved in As(V) and As(III) sequestration on the sorbents examined here. Significantly, X-WMR showed (up to 49%) greater As(III) and As(V) sorption than that of natural WMR. Our results demonstrated that X-WMR efficiently removed 94%–100% (<I>n</I> = 16) of As from As-contaminated drinking well water which possessed detectable concentrations of some anions (e.g., SO<SUB>4</SUB>, CO<SUB>3</SUB>, HCO<SUB>3</SUB>). This study highlights that the X-WMR has potential to remove As, notably As(III), from solutions and drinking water, and might be utilized as a reactive medium for the treatment of As-contaminated water.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Water melon rind (WMR) was tested for arsenic removal potential from water. </LI> <LI> Xanthated WMR removed up to 99% of As(III)/As(V) in solutions. </LI> <LI> Langmuir and pseudo second-order models provided the best fits for As(III) and As(V). </LI> <LI> FTIR spectra showed arsenic sequestration with surface functional groups of sorbents. </LI> <LI> Xanthated WMR successfully removed 94–100% arsenic from drinking well water. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Mediating Role of Liquidity Policy on the Corporate Governance-Performance Link: Evidence from Pakistan

TAHIR, Safdar Husain,SADIQUE, Muhammad Abu Bakar,SYED, Nausheen,REHMAN, Faiza,ULLAH, Muhammad Rizwan Korea Distribution Science Association 2020 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.7 No.8

Based on the theoretical underpinnings of the agency theory and liquidity theory, the purpose of this study is to show how managers who want to enhance the performance of Pakistan's non-financial sector can use liquidity policy in relation to corporate governance. Nowadays, Pakistan is facing a severe liquidity crisis; this study contributes by examining the mediating role of liquidity on the link of corporate governance-performance. We use data from 63 firms from 2010 to 2018, excluding 17 outliers. To analyze the data, we use the Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SURE) model and nlcom-Stata test. Our findings support the mediating role of liquidity on the link between corporate governance and performance. In addition, the results show that corporate governance improves performance. Furthermore, the study supports a significant positive association of liquidity and performance. For robustness, we use two performance variables - return on assets (ROA) and Tobin's q (TQ) - where ROA represents full mediation and TQ indicates partial mediation. This study helps to use liquidity policy to strengthen the inside and outside dimensions of corporate governance mechanisms that improve the performance of firms. Overall, these findings suggest better disclosure, transparency, and solutions to auditing issues that add value to the firms.