Arsalan Khan

Effect of Nitrogen Levels and Plant Population on Yield and Yield Components of Maize

Field experiment was conducted to study the effect of nitrogen levels and plant population on maize. Maximum number of days to tasseling (71), silking (76) and maturity (108) were recorded with the application of nitrogen at 210 kg ha-1. Higher plant height (202 cm), leaf area plant-1 (2757 cm2), leaf area index (2.16), ear length (18.0 cm), ear weight (150 g), grains ear-1 (548), thousand grain weight (258 g) and grain yield (2673 kg ha-1) were recorded with application of 210 kg N ha-1 which was statistically similar to 180 and 150 kg N ha-1. Higher biological yield (7189 kg ha-1) was recorded from 150 kg N ha-1 which was similar to 210 kg N ha-1. Plant population of 95000 plants ha-1 took more number of days to tasseling (70), silking (75) and maturity (107). Taller plants (197 cm) were measured for plant population of 95000 plants ha-1. Maximum number of leaves plant-1 (10.45) was recorded for plant population of 80000 plants ha-1. Higher leaf area plant-1 (2585 cm2) and leaf area index (2.59) were recorded for 65000 plants ha-1 which was statistically at par with 80000 plants ha-1. Higher ear length (17.71 cm), ear weight (145 g), grains ear-1 (515) and thousand grain weight (252 g) were recorded from 65000 plants ha-1 which was similar to 80000 plants ha-1. Plant population of 95000 plants ha-1 produced maximum biological yield (7276 kg ha-1) while plant population of 80000 plants ha-1 produced maximum grain yield (2551 kg ha-1) and harvest index (35.95%). It is concluded from the study that application of 150 kg N ha-1 produced maximum grain yield and plant population of 80000 plants ha-1 produced higher grain yield.

Effect of drought stress on tomato cv. Bombino.

To study “the effect of drought stress on Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Cv. Bombino” an experiment was conducted at Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Agricultural University Peshawar. Tomato plants were grown in green house under two different conditions of water availability i.e.- controlled and drought. The parameters studied were relative water content (%), proline content (μmoles) and relative growth rate (week?1). Drought stress has significant effect on all parameters studied. The relative water content of plant body decline during drought due to less water availability. In controlled environment, the mean value of relative water content was 89.28 while that observed in drought condition was 87.73. Proline was observed on rise due to continuous decrease in water quantity in cell sap. The value of proline content is 4.4 μmoles g?1 fresh weight in controlled condition whereas that the plants in drought condition had 5.8 μmoles g?1 fresh weight. Due to less water, photosynthesis was negatively affected which resulted in less energy production and finally low growth. In controlled condition the relative growth rate week?1 on fresh weight was 1.37 gm whereas that of plant in drought condition was 0.57 gm.

Effect of Different Levels of Sucrose-Glucose Mixture on Overall Quality of Guava Bar

The effect of sucrose-glucose mixture was studied on the overall quality of guava bar stored at room temperature (25-30°C) during three months storage period. Different ratio of sucrose glucose mixture was used. All the treatments were analyzed for physicochemical characteristics and sensory (color, texture, taste and overall acceptability). The results showed that decreased were observed in water activity (from 0.68 to 0.62), moisture (from 18.59 to 14.43), pH (from 3.87 to 3.69) and ascorbic acid (from 3.87 to 3.69) color (from 7.67 to 5.63), texture (from 7.67 to 5.63), taste (from 7.42 to 5.37) and overall acceptability (from 7.53 to 5.48), while reducing sugar (from 14.16 to 14.41), titratable acidity (1.13 to 1.33), and total soluble solids (from 61.85 to 63.70) was increased. The overall results showed that treatment GL2 followed by GL5 were found adequate both physicochemical and sensory evaluation.

Frequency and Determinants of Inappropriate Use of Treadmill Stress Test for Coronary Artery Disease

Background In developing countries like Pakistan, treatment is mediated by private and public healthcare setups with a limited budget for health facilities. Moreover, the inappropriate use of treadmill tests imposes a burden on healthcare resources and leads to unwarranted interventions. Our aim is to assess the prevalence and predictors of inappropriate referrals for the exercise tolerance test (ETT) to diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD) while taking public and private healthcare settings into consideration. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to find the prevalence of the inappropriate use of ETT to diagnose obstructive CAD and to determine the factors responsible for it. A total of 264 patients were enrolled from outpatient departments in Karachi. The inclusion criterion was the referral of treadmill testing for the diagnosis of CAT. The analysis was performed by logistic regression models to ascertain independent predictors of inappropriate use. Results Exercise stress tests were found to be inappropriate in 209 (79%) patients. The study indicated that the majority of patients had a low or very low pre-test probability of CAD. Diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were less frequent in the inappropriate as compared to the appropriate referrals (10%, 45%, and 16% versus 20%, 69%, and 32%). Both public and private sectors showed a high prevalence of inappropriate testing, but it was much higher in the latter (27% versus 73%, P < 0.001). In all regression models, the private healthcare system was the major independent predictor for inappropriate indications of ETT with an average odds ratio of 4.9 (P < 0.001). Conclusion The high prevalence of ETT referrals was found for the diagnosis of CAD. This result was consistent with both public and private healthcare systems, but it was considerably higher in private setups. Comorbidities, number of risk factors, and cardiovascular risk were not associated with the inappropriate use of ETT.

Factors Determining Pakistani Medical Students’ Career Preference for General Practice Residency Training

Background Few studies have explored factors affecting preference of medical students towards general practice as a career choice. We conducted a survey in Karachi across various public and private sector medical colleges to examine factors associated with students’ general practice career aspirations in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods From January to March 2018, we distributed a 21-item questionnaire to final year medical students in eight medical schools. The survey asked students about their top three career preferences from 19 specialty fields, their demographics and their career priorities. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the effect of each item. Results A total of 1400 responses were obtained. The top five specialty fields chosen by students with their numbers were: internal medicine, 898 (64.2%); general practice, 337 (24.1%); pediatrics, 449 (32.1%); surgery, 380 (27.2%); and emergency medicine, 243 (17.4%). The “intent to inherit existing practice” and “other academic or professional experiences prior to medical school” had a positive association with choosing general practice while “having a physician parent’’ had a negative association among the medical students demographics after adjusting for other covariates in the multivariable logistic regression. Medical students who ranked “clinical diagnostic reasoning”, “community-oriented practice”, “involvement in preventive medicine”, and “frequent patient communication” as highly important were more likely to choose general practice, whereas, “access to advanced medical fields”, “mastering advanced procedures”, and “depth rather than breadth of practice” were less likely to be associated with general practice aspiration. Conclusion The study’s results depicted limited interest of family medicine as a career option in graduating students, and pointed out the factors that likely influence the choice of general practice as a career are clinical diagnostic reasoning, community-oriented practice and preventive medicine.

Development and Quality Evaluation of RTS from Mandarin ( Citrus reticulata ) and Carrot Blend Flavored with Ginger Extract

The current investigation was carried out to prepare RTS beverage from Mandarin and carrot blend flavored with ginger extract. Five different formulations of Mandarin juice, carrot juice and ginger extract were used to prepare RTS beverage and quality was assess for a total period of 90 days. Physicochemical and sensory evaluation was carried out. The result of nutritional analysis showed that pH and TSS increase during storage while the declining trend in ascorbic acid content and titratable acidity increased during total period of storage. Sensory analysis showed that there was a declining trend in color, taste, flavor and overall acceptability. Among different treatments, T2 gives highest score for overall acceptability and could be recommended for large scale production in industries.

Development and Quality Evaluation of Tamarind Plum Blended Squash DuringStorage

The achievement was done to study the combination of tamarind plum blended squash for 90 days’ interval at room temperature. Tamarind and plum was added at a combination of 750: 0, 650: 100, 550: 200, 450: 300, 350:400, 250:500, 150:600 and 50:700 represent each treatment. The prepared tamarind plum blended squash was analyzed physio-chemically for TSS, Ascorbic acid, acidity, sugar acid ration, pH, reducing and non-reducing sugar, organoleptically for taste, color, texture and overall acceptability for a total period of 90 days. The result of the statistical analysis showed that treatment and storage interval shows a significant (P<0.05) effect both physio-chemical and organoleptic evaluation. Results also revealed that the decrease occurred in ascorbic acid content from (39.49 mg/100 gm to 27.40 mg/100 gm), titratable acidity (1.09% to 0.98%),non-reducing sugar (44.36% to 21.97%), and sensory evaluation included taste (6.85 to 5.83), color (6.33 to 5.36), flavor (7.54 to 5.75) and overall acceptability (8.03 to 6.14) while increased was found in total soluble solid (48.98°brix to 49.61°brix), sugar-acid ratio (44.94 to 50.79), pH (2.77 to 2.84), reducing sugar (17.21% to 31.23%) during storage. The maximum mean values were observed for TSS is TPS7 (51.64°brix), ascorbic acid TPS7 (37.87 mg/ 100 gm), titratable acidityTPS1 (2.31%), sugar acid ratio TPS0 (50.55), pH TPS7 (2.93), reducing sugar TPS0 (25.32%), non-reducing sugar TPS4 (37.64%), color TPS5 (6.70), flavourTPS5 (7.54), taste TPS5 (7.00) and overall acceptability TPS5 (7.76). Among all the treatment TPS5 was found to be the best. The result revealed that significant (P<0.05) decreased was found in physio-chemical and organoleptic parameter of treatment TPS5.

Post-Harvest Evaluation of Strawberry Fruit Preserves in Different Concentration of Sucrose Solution and Potash Alum Stored at Ambient Temperature

This research work was conducted to study the effect of sucrose solution and pretreatment of potash alum at different concentration on overall quality of the strawberry fruit kept at ambient temperature. Various treatments were designed named as S0, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6 describing different concentrations of sucrose solutions and potash alum. All these treatments were examined physicochemically (Titratable acidity, pH, ascorbic acid, TSS, reducing and non-reducing sugar) and organoleptically (Texture, flavor, color and overall acceptability) at each 15 days interval for three months. Storage results shown that Decreased was found in pH from (3.50 to 3.33), ascorbic acid from (54..68 to 30.23 mg/100 g), non-reducing sugar from (11.89 to 11.04%), color score from (9 to 4.96), texture score from (9 to 5.63), flavor score from (9 to 5.23) and overall acceptability score from (9 to 5.40) while increased were found in TSS from (18.20 to 21.27Brix), titratable acidity from (0.38 to 0.53%) and reducing sugar from (5.58 to 7.88%) throughout storage period. The highest mean value for pH was occurred in treatment S1 (3.45), titratable acidity in S3 (0.50%), TSS in S6 (24.76oBrix), ascorbic acid in S2 (46.30 mg/100 g), reducing sugar in S6 (8.20%), non-reducing sugar in S3 (14.41%), color in S2 (7.60), texture in S2 (7.89), flavor in S3 and S4 (7.60) and overall acceptability in S1 (7.83). Findings revealed potash alum shows better results in 30° and 40°Brix sucrose solution concentration both for physicochemical and organoleptic properties of strawberry.

Effect of different concentration of guava pulp, apple pulp and sugar solution on the shelf stability of blend leather storage at ambient temperature.

The aim of the study was to evaluate a suitable combination of guava pulp, Apple pulp and sucrose solution for the preparation of guava and apple blend leather, stored at ambient temperature. The treatments were T0, T1 and T2. The samples were wrapped in the aluminum foil and evaluation was carried out for total period of 90 days. Physiochemical analysis, acidity, pH, brix0 and sensory characteristics of color, taste, texture and overall acceptability (using Larmond scale) were evaluated at 15 days interval. The TSS of guava and apple blend pulp was 8 brix0 when sucrose solution was added in different ratio, Then TSS of guava and apple blend leather was increased from 56.53g to 58.37a during storage. Maximum increased was observed T1 (20a%), while lowest value was observed in followed by T0 (13.93f%). The pH of guava and apple blend pulp was 4, then the pH of guava and apple blend leather was decreased from 3.86g to 3.68a for the period of storage. Maximum reduced was perceived in T1 (5.03c%), in compare minimum fall was observed in T0 (4.13f%). The Titratable acidy of guava and apple blend leather was increased from 1.27g to 1.46a for the period of storage. Supreme increased was perceived in T0 (19.47%), while lowest raise was observed in T2 (15.38%). The storage intervals had effect on the mean scores for organolyptic assessment. Mean scores of juries for the color of guava and apple blend leather was reduced from 7.33g to 5.27a for the period of storage. Supreme decreased was perceived in T0 (41.67%), while lowest fall was observed in T2 (18.75%). Mean totals of juries for the taste of guava and apple blend leather was reduced from 6.83g to 4.80a for the period of storage. Maximum reduced was detected in T0 (44.4%), while lowest fall was observed in T2 (21.25%). Mean scores of judges for the texture of guava and apple blend leather was reduced from 700g to 5.07a for the period of storage. Maximum decreased was perceived in T0 (38%), while lowest fall was observed in T0 (18.75%). Mean scores of juries for the overall acceptability of guava and apple blend leather was reduced from 7.07g to 5.03a throughout the storage. Maximum decreased was perceived in T0 (42.31%), while lowest fall was observed in T2 (20%). Statistically result was showed that the treatment T2 was found most acceptable both Physiochemical and organoleptically.

THE INFLUENCE OF MODEL PARAMETERS ON CATCHMENT RESPONSE

This paper deals with the study of influence of conceptual rainfall-runoff model parameters on catchment response. A lumped conceptual watershed yield model, based on pragmatic approach, is employed to study the influence of model parameters on catchment response i.e runoff. The model is calibrated using manual parameter fitting approach also known as trial and error parameter fitting. In all, there are parameters that control the functioning of the model. The detailed analysis was performed on Ling River near Kahuta having catchment area of 145.04 sq. km. (56 sq. miles). The model includes physical parameters linked with groundwater storage, evapotranspiration and coefficients of infiltration & groundwater storage, and initial estimates of the surface water and groundwater storages. As sensitivity analysis is a very useful tool for parameter optimization therefore, it was performed to evaluate the influence of model parameters on runoff. The sensitivity and relative contributions of model parameters influencing catchment response are studied. The analysis confirmed that model parameters linked with surface runoff parameters specified for each month are more significant as compared to infiltration, evapotranspiration and subsurface input parameters.