The University of Karachi (Sindhi: ڪراچي يونيورسٽي; informally Karachi University, KU, or UoK) is a public research university located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Established in June 1951 by an act of Parliament and as a successor to the University of Sindh (which is now located in Jamshoro), the university is a "federal university" and designed by Mohsin Baig as its chief architect.With a total student body of 41,000 full-time students and a campus size spanning over 1200 acres, Karachi University is one of the largest universities in Pakistan with a distinguished reputation for multi-disciplinary research in science and technology, medical, and social sciences. The university has over 53 Departments and 19 research institutes operating under nine faculties. There are over 893 academics and more than 2500 supporting staff working for the university.In 2008, the university was named for the first time by THE-QS World University Rankings among the top 600 universities in the world. In 2009, the university was named as one of the top 500 universities in the world, while in 2016 it was ranked among the top 250 in Asia and 701st in the world. In 2019, it was ranked 801st in the world and 251st in Asia. The University of Karachi is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities of the United Kingdom.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective intervention for preventing HIV transmission, but its high cost and uneven uptake raise key challenges for allocating resources efficiently. While spillover effects-wherein PrEP use in one group reduces infections in others-are known to occur, they remain poorly quantified and rarely guide policy. We provide a comprehensive modeling study, backed by data, for PrEP spillover effects in HIV risk populations, and develop both analytic and numerical tools for its quantification. Specifically, we first develop a novel compartmental model for HIV transmission that stratifies the total population into four interacting subpopulations: heterosexual males (HETM), high-risk heterosexual females (HETF-hi), low-risk heterosexual females (HETF-lo) and men who have sex with men (MSM). The asymptotic stability of the disease-free equilibrium of the model is analyzed. The spillover effect is directly quantified for this model by deriving an expression for the spillover-adjusted number needed to treat (NNT), a measure of the population-level impact of PrEP uptake in one group on disease incidence in others. Simulations show that PrEP delivery to MSM yields substantial indirect benefits, particularly for HETF-lo, where the spillover effect exceeds the direct effect by a factor of five. Furthermore, we show that targeting HETF-hi outperforms direct PrEP delivery to HETM, emphasizing the importance of intra-group heterogeneity. To evaluate whether these results hold under more detailed assumptions, we embed our framework into the national HOPE model maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and conduct global sensitivity analysis using Sobol indices with Polynomial Chaos Expansion. This approach extends our analytical insights and quantifies how uncertainty in PrEP allocation strategies propagates through complex epidemic dynamics. Further, this framework provides a numerical procedure for quantifying spillover effects in settings where direct mathematical analysis is impractical (or impossible). Our results demonstrate that spillover effects are a central driver of PrEP dynamics and that failing to account for them risks mis-allocating of control resources. This study provide both analytic and numerical methods for realistically quantifying PrEP spillover effects across models of differing complexity, bridging the gap between interpretable theoretical insights and high-dimensional national-scale simulations.
Densities of DMF and corn oil-DMF mixtures were measured, and the effect of potassium iodide (KI) on their density was studied at temperatures of 303.15⁓323.15 K and ambient atmospheric pressure of 1 atm. The density of the DMF and corn oil-DMF mixtures increased with the addition of corn oil and KI, whereas a decrease in density was observed with the rise in experimental temperature. Apparent molar volume (Vϕ) of KI solutions was calculated from the densities of solvent and solution. The Vϕ decreased with the addition of KI, while an increase occurred with the addition of corn oil and temperature rise. Limiting apparent molar volume (V ϕ o ) was calculated from Masson’s and Redlich, Rosenfeld, Meyer’s (RRM) equations and further utilized to evaluate Hepler’s constant; (δ2V ϕ o /δT2)P. A negative Hepler’s constant confirmed that KI acts as a structure-breaker in DMF and corn oil-DMF mixtures, and the same was also supported by the trends of thermodynamic parameters.
Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes are central to tackling antimicrobial resistance. Comparative evidence on how barriers differ between high-income countries (HICs) and low-/middle-income countries (LMICs) in tertiary care hospitals is limited. The review aims to identify and compare multilevel barriers to implementing AMS programmes in tertiary care hospitals in HICs and LMICs. We conducted a systematic scoping review following PRISMA-ScR and Joanna Briggs Institute guidance. PubMed and Web of Science were searched for English-language primary studies from January 2015 to November 2025. Studies were considered eligible if they examined barriers to implementing AMS in adult inpatient services in tertiary care hospitals. Using a framework-based thematic approach, barriers were grouped into eight themes and mapped to individual, team, organizational, and system levels. Out of 2311 records, 57 studies met inclusion criteria (23 = HICs, 34 = LMICs). Knowledge, education, and confidence gaps were the most frequent barrier theme in both groups, reported in about three-quarters of studies. Staffing and resource constraints and organisational/governance barriers were also highly prevalent, particularly in LMIC hospitals. Workflow and documentation problems and data-system limitations were more prominent in HIC studies, whereas structural health system constraints were more prominent in LMICs. Qualitative and mixed-methods studies identified a broader range of barriers than surveys or observational designs. AMS implementation in tertiary hospitals is constrained by overlapping multilevel barriers that are broadly similar across income groups but differ in emphasis. Tailored strategies that jointly strengthen workforce capacity, infrastructure and governance are needed, with particular attention to system-level constraints in LMICs and workflow and data challenges in HICs.
PurposeThis article investigates the influence of marketing and organizational innovation practices on supply chain risk management (SCRM) capabilities, namely resilience and robustness, and examines both their direct and indirect effects on enhancing overall SCRM performance.Design/methodology/approachThis is explanatory research using a deductive approach. This study uses survey data from 267 manufacturing export firms analysed through partial least squares structural equation modelling.FindingsThe findings suggest that marketing innovation (MI) and organizational innovation (OI) practices significantly strengthen supply chain risk management (SCRM) capabilities, specifically robustness and resilience, which subsequently exert a substantial influence on enhancing SCRMP. Beyond these direct relationships, the analysis further indicates that MI contributes to SCRMP indirectly through both resilience and robustness, demonstrating partial mediation, whereas the effect of OI on SCRMP is realized exclusively through resilience and robustness, thereby evidencing full mediation.Originality/valueThis article contributes to the supply chain management (SCM) literature by linking innovation and supply chain risk management (SCRM), an area that has only recently gained attention. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study offers one of the first comprehensive examinations of how marketing innovation (MI) and organizational innovation (OI) relate with existing strategies to build resilience and robustness as core SCRM capabilities. In doing so, it contributes to both theory and practice by providing a broader perspective on the mechanisms through which innovation supports sustained SCRM performance.
Preconditioned stem cells may offer a promising approach to treat various neurological disorders. Compounds like alpha pinene (AP) possess significant bioactive properties and may enhance the regeneration potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) following cerebral ischemia in rats. BM-MSCs were cultured, characterized, and treated with the non-cytotoxic concentration of AP and analyzed for the expression of neuronal markers. Rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups; normal control (NC), disease control (DC), and normal MSC (N-MSC) and AP treated MSC (AP-MSC) transplanted groups. Ischemia was induced by ligating the carotid artery. Normal- and AP-MSCs (2 × 106 cells) were transplanted after 24 h of ischemia induction in their respective groups via tail vein. Brain was harvested from each group and assessed at transcriptional (hypoxia and inflammatory mediators), histochemical (TTC staining), and histopathological (H E staining) levels. Furthermore, in vivo differentiation of MSCs were evaluated by NeuN immunostaining. Normal and AP-MSCs after transplantation showed downregulation of hypoxia and inflammatory markers compared to DC group. Histological analysis of DC indicated neuronal damage, perivascular edema, vacuolation, and distorted tissue architecture in cortex and thalamus, whereas structural integrity was restored in both the transplanted groups. Immunostaining also revealed the expression of NeuN in transplanted MSCs. The study demonstrates the protective role of preconditioned BM-MSCs in reversing the ischemia induced neuronal damage. After subsequent experimental validation, the study findings may offer promising treatment modality against neuronal loss due to ischemic injuries. Cerebral ischemia also known as ischemic stroke, is the second leading cause of death globally. It induced neuronal injury resulting in complete or partial loss of function of the affected area. Stem cell therapy offers promising option to repair neuronal cells and facilitate recovery of the damaged area. Stem cell treatment with bioactive molecules prior to their transplantation can enhance their regenerative capabilities. The current study treated bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) with alpha pinene and explored their regenerative potential in an animal model of cerebral ischemia. The study findings demonstrated that preconditioned BM-MSCs possess the potential to reverse neuronal damage. After conducting subsequent validation through long term functional studies, the current findings may provide a promising therapeutic approach against central nervous system pathologies.
