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ABSTRACTConsidering the climate issues, there is a need to investigate the various motivators and triggering factors influencing consumers’ green buying behaviors. The current study examines the influence of green brand knowledge and credibility on the consumers’ green brand evaluation, leading to their green buying behavior. Moreover, the moderating role of green advertising on consumers’ green brand evaluation has been assessed. Surveying 587 organic skincare product consumers via time-lagged research design, data were analyzed using measurement and structural models employing SmartPLS software. Results showed the positive and significant direct and indirect influence of consumers’ green brand knowledge and credibility on their green buying behavior via green brand evaluation as a mediator. Besides, this study is incremental in presenting the significant moderating role of green advertisement to augment consumers’ positive evaluation of green brands that further influence their green buying behaviors while purchasing skincare products.

Byline: Abid Saeed Since its explosion across the country's socio-cultural landscape over a decade ago, Computer Network Gaming has left a lasting impact on the lives of Pakistani youth growing [...]

Byline: Abid Saeed There is a global consensus that endorses telecommunications as an infrastructure essential to a country's economic development and global competitiveness. Nationwide telecommunications networks form the backbone for [...]

•Technical and economic analysis of wind energy for eighteen locations in Pakistan.•Optimal Weibull parameters estimation using Kolmogorov–Smirnov statistic.•Comparing twenty wind turbines to select the best option.•Assessing the annual power density, energy density, and capacity factor.•Sujawal, Hyderabad, and Tandoghulam are the best wind energy development sites.

•A new criterion is proposed for Weibull parameter estimation using Chebyshev metric.•The proposed criterion guarantees convergence of Artificial Intelligence optimization algorithm in all cases of Weibull parameter estimation.•A new fitness-criterion is defined to determine the best fitting method for Weibull distribution.•Results show that the proposed method performs better than numerical methods.•Gamesa G136 is found to be the best turbine for the targeted site with Annual energy production of 23,532 MWh/m2.

Pakistan is one of those countries that heavily dependent on hydrocarbon fuel for energy production which results in severe climate change. Although renewable energy resources, like wind, are available in abundance, they are not completely utilized due to which energy crises of the country increases day by day. This study comprehensively elaborates the potential of wind power of a site located in the Northern part of Pakistan. The potential of wind power for the site was accessed and analyzed by using two years (2016–18) wind data at four heights (80, 60, 40 and 20 m from sea level). Six numerical methods are used for the estimation of Weibull parameters (shape ‘k’ and scale ‘c’). Using these parameters, Weibull mean velocity, power density, and energy density are computed at all mast heights for each year. The seasonal wind characteristics parameters and power density are also calculated. Among these methods, the modified maximum likelihood method (MMLM) is found to be the most effective method to represent the wind data, while the graphical method (GM) showed the weakest fit. Root mean square error (RMSE), determination of coefficient (R2), and mean bias error (MBE) are computed to validate the computed results. Wind power potential assessment of the calculated data shows that the proposed location is appropriate for small scale wind energy generation.

Field populations of Helicoverpa armigera Hübner from 15 localities across the Punjab, Pakistan, were assessed by the leaf dip method for resistance against formulated organophosphates, pyrethroids, and newer insecticide groups. Resistance levels in H. armigera have been incrementally increasing for organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides after decades of use in Pakistan. Resistance ratios (RRs) documented for organophosphates were 24- to 116-fold for profenofos and 22- to 87-fold for chlorpyrifos. For pyrethroids, RRs were 3- to 69-fold for cypermethrin and 3- to 27-fold for deltamethrin. Resistance levels against newer chemistries were 2- to 24-fold for chlorfenapyr, 1- to 22-fold for spinosad, 1- to 20-fold for indoxacarb, 1- to 18-fold for abamectin, and 1- to 16-fold for emamectin benzoate. Resistant populations of H. armigera were mainly in the southern part of the Punjab, Pakistan. The most resistant populations were collected from Pakpattan, Multan, and Muzzafargarh. Of the nine insecticides tested, LC50 and LC90 values were lower for newer insecticide groups; resistance levels were moderate to very high against organophosphates, very low to high against pyrethroids, and very low to low against the newer-chemistry insecticides. These findings suggest that the newer-chemistry insecticides with different modes of action could be included in insecticide rotations or replace the older insecticides. Supplementing the use of synthetic insecticides with safer alternatives could help to successfully lower the farmer’s reliance on insecticides and the incidence of resistance due to repeated use of insecticides against major insect pests.