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Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences

Population Density of Foliage Insect Pest on Jujube, Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. Ecosystem
Pages 304-313
Imtiaz Ahmed Nizamani, M.A. Rustamani, S.M. Nizamani, Shafique Ahmed Nizamaniand Muhammad Ibrahim Khaskheli

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2015.11.45

Published: 03 April 2015

Open Access

Abstract: Jujube, Ziziphus mauritiana L. is the King of arid zone fruits, due to its adaptations to tolerate the biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the occurrence of insect pest is the major threat to reduce the quality and quantity of fruits. The current studies are the first comprehensive evidence on the population density of foliage insect pests evaluated on two different varieties, Golden Gola (susceptible) and White Kherol (resistance) at farmer’s field Tando Qaiser, District Hyderabad during 2007 and 2008. A total of 13 different insect pests which were categorized as major (Ancylis sativa, Euproctis fraterna and Adoretus pallens), minor (Scirtothrips dorsalis, Amrasca biguttula biguttula, Myllocerus discolor, Achaea janata, Agrotis biconica and Aphis gossypii) and occasional (Oxycareous hyalinipennis, Dichromorpha viridis, Tarucus balkanicus and Orgyia postica) based on overall population of two years. The mean population percentage of insect pests indicates the highest percentage for E. fraterna followed by A. pallens, A. biguttula biguttula, M. discolor and S. dorsalis on White Kherol, whereas, Golden Gola was severely infested and showed maximum percentage with A. sativa followed by E. fraterna, S. dorsalis, A. pallens and A. biguttula biguttula. It is concluded that A. sativa, E. fraterna and A. pallens are serious insect pests of jujube. Pest monitoring with direct count and light trap can help to determine the ETL that is most important for the management of various insect pests including these major and minor pest. The present study will hopefully be helpful for management of foliage insect pests of jujube..

Keywords: Ziziphus mauritiana, Foliage insect pests, population.

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Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences

Women Entrepreneurship: Problems Faced by Rural Women Entrepreneurs in Sindh Province of Pakistan
Pages 274-277
Har Bakhsh Makhijani, Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar, Shuhab Mughal and Urooj Talpur

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2015.11.39

Published: 26 March 2015

Open Access

Abstract: Rural women consist of more than one quarter of the total world population and world over they are an essential and fundamental force in the development processes that are the main factors to socio economic progress. There have been a number of serious obstacles; some of them are social, managerial, production and marketing constraints and difficulties arises both from within and outside differ from enterprise to enterprise.This study was carried out in Sindh province of Pakistan. For the study purpose 3 districts were selected out of the existing 28 districts, from each district five villages were selected through a multistage sampling techniques. Twenty five women entrepreneurs were selected from each village. Thus making a sample of 375 women was randomly selected for the study. A well structured interview schedule was used to collect information from the women entrepreneurs on their personal and socio-economic characteristics and problem faced by them in entrepreneurship at field level. Statistical techniques like mean scores and percentages were used to analyze the data. Majority of 37.53% of the respondents were within 36-45 years of age. Majority of respondents were single (36%) among these were married (25%) and those who were divorced (17%), while 16% were Widow. 47% women’s entrepreneurs had 6-10 family members, while 40.84% were 1-5 household size. Majority of the respondents had primary education (44%), while only 22.51% had no formal education. Forty four percent (44.16%) of the respondents had >5 years of entrepreneur experience, 40.83% had 6-10 years. Majority (28%) expressed that lack of family cooperation is causing a problem. However 25.33% of respondents reported lack of reorganization of women’s work in the society as a social problem. Almost 40% of the respondents faced lack of credit facilities, while 34.67% of the respondents perceived that complex loaning procedure is a major problem to manage the business. About 32% respondents perceived that inaccessibility of place of work, while 28% respondents perceived as a lack of marketing facility was a major problem. It was recommended that the need for providing family cooperation and women’s involved in entrepreneurs may be recognized in all stage to promote entrepreneurship at field level. Adequate training must be given to the women entrepreneurship at field level and guidance at all stages can be effective ways to cope the problems of women entrepreneurs that hinders in entrepreneurship The major problems of micro credit, complex loan procedure, lack of marketing, transport facilities needs to be improved for the successful enterprise development in the province and an appropriate marketing facilities and micro credits through public private organizations may be extended to the rural women for their successful business

Keywords: Rural Women, Entrepreneur, Problems.

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Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences

Spatial Variability of Urban Heat Island of Sargodha City in Pakistan
Pages 278-285
Sajjad Hussain Sajjad, Sadaf Hussain, Safdar Ali Shirazi, Khadija Shakrullah, Khuram Shahzad, Rabia Batool and S.M. Talha Qadri

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2015.11.40

Published: 26 March 2015

Open Access

Abstract: Sargodha is one of the most important cities of Pakistan. Located in the center of Pakistan, it is the hub of the Pakistan Air Force. Rapid urbanization in the city has caused it to expand it farther from its center. Sargodha is 11th most populated metropolitan city in Pakistan. Currently, it has 0.7 million population and covers an area of 52 km2. The objective of this study was to measure the spatial variability of urban heat island (UHI) in different areas of the city in comparison with the temperature of the urban center. The meteorological data was measured by installing digital weather stations at four sites, 3 within the city by considering the areas as urban highly dense, urban less dense and urban periphery and one at rural site almost 10 km away from the city center. The result highlighted that difference in temperature between urban densely built area and rural site was highest. The difference in temperature increased as one moved away from the city center where urban areas were found warmer than the sites comparatively away from the city center. It was observed that the UHI intensity is not same in different areas of the city. The highest intensity of UHI is observed on Sunday where it was measured 5.7 °C.

Keywords: Urbanization, urban heat island, land-use change effect, Sargodha.

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Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences

Surface Functionalization of Gold Nanoparticles for Physical Antibiotics Coping with Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
Pages 286-290
Yujiro Naruse

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2015.11.41

Published: 26 March 2015

Open Access

Abstract: Surface functionalization of gold nanoparticles is theoretically investigated in order to develop physical antibiotics coping with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The core concept of the physical antibiotics is based on the design strategy utilizing molecular elements in peptidoglycan for surface functionalization of gold nanoparticles. These gold nanoparticles will couple to peptidoglycan easily during the proliferation or growth of the bacteria, leading to the destruction of cell walls. Additionally, physical fields (electromagnetic wave, X-ray or ultrasound) bring enhanced suppression of the proliferation. This strategy allows us to have wide variety of antibiotics designs and the suppression against the outbreak of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Keywords: Gold nanoparticles, antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, peptidoglycan, cell wall, electromagnetic wave, X-ray, ultrasound.

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