• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.48-61
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• 2017

This paper uses 601 cited papers of Pakistani LIS researchers with the purpose to examine the individual performance of these Library and Information Science (LIS) researchers in terms of their research output and its impact on the LIS (national/international) literature by using various bibliometric indicators. A list of 139 authors was compiled with the help of the Library, Information Science, and Technology Abstracts (LISTA) and some other sources. Data were collected from Google Scholar and SPSS version 20 was utilized in order to identify the relationship between self-citations and various performance indices of the authors. The average citations received per paper vary from 1.80 to 10.08. About half of the papers were single-authored whereas less than one-fifth were by three or more authors. The authors who worked in collaboration produced more papers and received more citations. The h-index, g-index, hI-index, hI-norm, and e-index were used to determine the rank for each author. The intra-group citations grid revealed the volume of self-citations and a small group who cite each other more due to close academic and social relationships. The correlations between self-citations and the impact indices used revealed significant differences. Findings are useful for concerned institutions regarding award, promotions, etc. Further, future research should seriously consider the self-citations and social networking of authors while examining their citations-based research performance.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.339-347
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• 2021

This study aims to forecast the exchange rate by a combination of different models as proposed by Poon and Granger (2003). For this purpose, we include three univariate time series models, i.e., ARIMA, Naïve, Exponential smoothing, and one multivariate model, i.e., NARDL. This is the first of its kind endeavor to combine univariate models along with NARDL to the best of our knowledge. Utilizing monthly data from January 2011 to December 2020, we predict the Pakistani Rupee against the US dollar by a combination of different forecasting techniques. The observations from M1 2020 to M12 2020 are held back for in-sample forecasting. The models are then assessed through equal weightage and var-cor methods. Our results suggest that NARDL outperforms all individual time series models in terms of forecasting the exchange rate. Similarly, the combination of NARDL and Naïve model again outperformed all of the individual as well as combined models with the lowest MAPE value of 0.612 suggesting that the Pakistani Rupee exchange rate against the US Dollar is dependent upon the macro-economic fundamentals and recent observations of the time series. Further evidence shows that the combination of models plays a vital role in forecasting, as stated by Poon and Granger (2003).

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2016

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of corporate governance practices such as (board size, board composition, CEO duality and audit committee) on the performance of selected Pakistani firms. Research design, data, and methodology - This study examines corporate governance structure by using the data of 80 non-financial firms listed on Karachi Stock Exchange Pakistan during 2010-2014. Hypotheses of the study were tested by using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Result - The findings indicate that board size and audit committee is positively related to the firm performance (ROA & ROE). In contrast, board composition and CEO duality are negatively related to the firm performance (ROA & ROE). As far as controlling variables is concerned, leverage is negative, whereas firm size is positively related to all measures of performance. Conclusions - Empirical findings concluded that corporate governance practices affect the firm performance. Therefore, it is suggested that managers should understand the governance mechanisms to work more efficiently in the firm.

• International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.105-116
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• 2016

Use of information technology in providing efficient library services is inevitable in today's information world. Its implementation causes many challenges for all the stake holders. This study is an attempt to identify challenges faced by university libraries of Pakistan in information technology adoption. To elucidate the research problem, a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods was used. Valid returned questionnaires (N=52) and recorded interviews of 51 LIS professionals with experience in library automation were analyzed to draw the results. The study determined that 'lack of training opportunities for LIS professionals' and 'lack of IT skills among the majority of LIS professionals' are major challenges to the adaptation of IT. Similarities were found in the results of this study and some previous studies conducted at national and international levels.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.3973-3980
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• 2014

Prostate adenocarcinoma is one of the leading causes of cancer related mortality in men but still limited knowledge is available about its associated functional SNPs including rs1042522 (Pro72Arg). The present study was undertaken to explore the association of this SNP with susceptibility to prostate adenocarcinoma along with its structural and functional impacts in the Pakistani population in a case-control study. Three-dimensional structure of human TP53 with Pro72Arg polymorphism was predicted through homology modeling, refined and validated for detailed structure-based assessment. We also carried out a HuGE review of the previous available data for this polymorphism. Different genetic models were used to evaluate the genotypes association with the increased risk of PCa (Allelic contrast: OR=0.0.34, 95%CI 0.24-0.50, p=0.000; GG vs CC: OR=0.17, 95%CI 0.08-0.38, p=0.000; Homozygous: OR=0.08, 95%CI 0.04-0.15, p=0.000; GC vs CC: OR=2.14, 95%CI 1.01-4.51, p=0.046; Recessive model: OR=0.10, 95%CI 0.05-0.18, p=0.000; Log Additive: OR=3.54, 95%CI 2.13-5.89, p=0.000) except the Dominant model (OR=0.77, 95%CI 0.39-1.52, p=0.46). Structure and functional analysis revealed that the SNP in the proline rich domain is responsible for interaction with HRMT1L2 and WWOX. In conclusion, it was observed that the Arg coding G allele is highly associated with increased risk of prostate adenocarcinoma in the Pakistani population (p=0.000).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1103-1108
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• 2008

An investigation to determine frequency and distribution of folate sensitive chromosomal fragile sites was carried out in a Pakistani breed of Lohi sheep to uncover fragile site phenomena. The means and standard errors of aberrant cell count (AC) and Number of aberrations (NoA) in Lohi sheep were $0.56{\pm}0.15$ and $0.59{\pm}0.16$ in the control cultures. FUdR treated cells showed significantly higher (p<0.001) AC and NoA means ($2.18{\pm}0.33$ and $2.65{\pm}0.50$). The sex comparison for the frequency of expression indicated that males had significantly higher number of aberrant cells and total number of aberrations in FUdR cultures than the female group in Lohi sheep. The comparison of control cultures was however, not significantly different between the two groups. The regression analysis of FUdR-induced chromosomal fragility data analysis of the fragility data predicted very low ${\beta}$ of 0.325 and 0.412 for AC and NoA respectively. Lohi chromosomes expressed lesions in only 7 and 24 bands in the control and FUdR cultures respectively. The total number of significantly fragile bands in the Lohi genome was only 4. The X-chromosome of the Lohi sheep was highly stable at $5{\mu}g/ml$ FUdR with no fragile sites. The sex comparison for the distribution of fragile sites across the Lohi genome did not reveal any noticeable differences.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.10009-10013
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• 2014

Background: Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene has been a subject of extensive pharmacogenetic research recently. Association studies between different types of cancers including prostate cancer (PCa) and VDR gene polymorphism have also been conducted. The objective of this study was to find possible associations between PCa and VDR gene polymorphisms in the Pakistani population. Materials and Methods: A total of 162 subjects, including prostate cancer patients and controls, were genotyped for Apa I, Taq I and Fok I polymorphisms in the VDR gene using allele specific PCR, PCR-RFLP and direct DNA sequencing. Allelic frequencies were tested for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and associations between the genetic markers and PCa were calculated using logistic regression. Results: Apa I CC genotype was found to have strongest association with PCa risk, and "A" genotype was found to have protective effect. Fok I and Taq I did not have appreciable levels of association with PCa, although Taq I "TC" heterozygotes seemed to have some protective effect. Similarly the "C" allele of Fok I also seemed to have protective effect. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report showing association between VDR gene polymorphisms and PCa in Pakistan. Our findings may be somewhat skewed because of small sample size and tendency of consanguineous marriages in Pakistani society; nevertheless, it shows the trend of association and protective effects of certain VDR gene polymorphisms against PCa.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.277-280
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• 2014

Background: Testicular cancer management is considered a marvel of modern science with excellent treatment results. Pakistan has a distinct ethnic variation and geographic distribution but data regarding clinical presentation of testicular tumors and their management is under reported. The objective of this study was to determine clinical profile, treatment modalities and survival outcome of testicular tumors in the Pakistani population. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of patients who received treatment for testicular cancer at Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital from January 2009 to December 2012 was performed. Patient demographics, clinical features at presentation and treatment modalities were assessed. For categorical variables chi square test was used. Survival was calculated using Kaplan Meier survival curves and Log rank test was employed to determine significance. Results: The most common tumor was mixed germ cell tumor in 49% patients. For all tumor variants except seminoma, stage III was the most common clinical stage at presentation. Majority of patients with non seminomatous germ cell tumors presented in the15-30 year age group as compared to seminoma which was most prevalent in the 30-40 year age group. Orchiectomy followed by chemotherapy was the most common treatment modality in 80% patients. Expected 5 year survival for seminomas and non-seminomatous germ cell tumors was 96% and 90% respectively which was not significantly different (p=0.2). Conclusions: Despite a distinct clinical profile of testicular tumors in Pakistani population, survival is comparable with published reports.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.183-188
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• 2013

Background: Breast cancer (BC), the most common female cancer in Pakistan, is associated with a very high mortality. However, the roles of individual risk factors for BC among Pakistani women are still controversial. To assess potential risk factors for BC, a matched case-control study was conducted in two tertiary care hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan. Materials and Methods: The study population included 297 pathologically confirmed incident cases of BC patients diagnosed between January 2009 and December 2010. 586 controls without any history of BC were matched on hospital and ${\pm}5$ years of ages. Results: Positive family history of BC (MOR=1.72; 95%CI: 1.10, 2.80 for first degree vs. none), single marital status (MOR=1.55; 95%CI: 1.10, 2.39 for single/divorced/widowed women vs. married women), older age at menopause (MOR=3.92; 95%CI: 2.52, 6.18 for menopausal women aged below 45 years, MOR=6.42; 95%CI: 3.47, 11.98 for menopausal women above 45 years of age compared with premenopausal women) conferred an increased risk of BC for women. Increasing parity decreased the risk of BC (MOR=0.90; 95%CI: 0.85, 0.97 for each live birth). Intake of Vitamin D supplements (MOR=0.30; 95%CI: 0.12, 0.81 for ${\leq}3$ years and MOR=0.27; 95%CI: 0.13, 0.56 for >3 years) was protective compared to non-users of Vitamin D. Conclusions: This study confirmed only few of the recognized risk factors in Pakistani women. The protective effect of Vitamin D is important from public health perspective and needs to be further explored through a randomized controlled trial.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9495-9498
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• 2014

Background: The difference in prognosis of adult and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) can be attributed largely to variation in cytogenetic abnormalities with age groups. Cytogenetic analysis in acute leukemia is now routinely used to assist patient management, particularly in terms of diagnosis, disease monitoring, prognosis and risk stratification. Knowing about cytogenetic profile at the time of diagnosis is important in order to take critical decisions in management of the patients. Aim and Objectives: To determine the frequency of cytogenetic abnormalities in Pakistani adult patients with ALL in order to have insights regarding behavior of the disease. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of all the cases of ALL (${\geq}15$years old) diagnosed at Aga Khan University from January 2006 to June 2014 was performed. Phenotype (B/T lineage) was confirmed in all cases by flow cytometry. Cytogenetic analysis was made for all cases using the trypsin-Giemsa banding technique. Karyotypes were interpreted using the International System for Human Cytogenetic Nomenclature (ISCN) criteria. Results: A total of 166 patients were diagnosed as ALL during the study period, of which 151 samples successfully yielded metaphase chromosomes. The male to female ratio was 3.4:1. The majority (n=120, 72.3%) had a B-cell phenotype. A normal karyotype was present in 51% (n=77) of the cases whereas 49% (n=74) had an abnormal karyotype. Of the abnormal cases, 10% showed Philadelphia chromosome; t(9;22)(q34;q11.2). Other poor prognostic cytogenetic subgroups were t(4;11)(q21;q23), hypodiploidy (35-45 chromosomes) and complex karyotype. Hyperdiploidy (47-57 chromosomes) occurred in 6.6%; all of whom were younger than 30 years. Conclusions: This study showed a relatively low prevalence of Philadelphia chromosome in Pakistani adults with ALL with an increase in frequency with age (p=0.003). The cumulative prevalence of Philadelphianegative poor cytogenetic aberrations in different age groups was not significant (p=0.6).