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Sustainability in cotton production is inevitable because producing more cotton means more employment, economic acceleration, and industrial expansion. India, China, the United States, Brazil, and Pakistan contribute 74% of worldwide cotton production. Pakistan is contributing only 5%, despite the high potential of cotton. The average yield of cotton in Pakistan is stagnant at 570.99 kg hm−2, whereas it entails the highest cost of production among all other crops. The yield obtained in Pakistan is less than the potential, profitability is drastically lessening, and farmers are abandoning cotton for alternative kharif crops. Some traditional quantitative studies have unveiled different factors that affect cotton production. However, an in-depth qualitative study has never been conducted in Pakistan to explore the root causes of growing cotton crop failure. Following Moustakas's traditional phenomenological guidelines, this phenomenological study was conducted in the district of Rahim Yar Khan in the core cotton zone of Punjab province. A total of 10 interviews were conducted with purposively selected cotton growers based on a criterion: (i) having more than 10 years of cotton growing experience, (ii) being a cotton grower, and (iii) having at least 10 years of formal schooling. Interviews were conducted face to face on an interview guide. One interview lasted 45–50 min, and responses were recorded and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. A total of 6 themes emerged from the collected data, including (i) climate change, (ii) varietal problems, (iii) pesticide usage, (iv) sense of institutional services, (v) attitude of farmers and (vi) soil health and environment. These six merging themes contributed to cotton crop failure and yield decline. The deep exploration further summarized that researchers, extensionists, and farmers need to seriously consider variety, sowing time, and the environment to revive cotton crops. The detailed recommendations and policy guidelines are presented in this paper, highlighting the cotton sector's research, development and investment areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ingeniería Solidaria is the property of Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper discusses the newly developed Decision Support System version 1.0 (DSS v1.0) for air quality management activities in Delhi, India. In addition to standard air quality forecasts, DSS provides the contribution of Delhi, its surrounding districts, and stubble-burning fires in the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana to the PM2.5 load in Delhi. DSS also quantifies the effects of local and neighborhood emission-source-level interventions on the pollution load in Delhi. The DSS-simulated Air Quality Index for the post-monsoon and winter seasons of 2021–2022 shows high accuracy (up to 80 %) and a very low false alarm ratio (∼ 20 %) from day 1 to day 5 of the forecasts, especially when the ambient air quality index (AQI) is > 300. During the post-monsoon season (winter season), emissions from Delhi, the rest of the National Capital Region (NCR)'s districts, biomass-burning activities, and all other remaining regions on average contribute 34.4 % (33.4 %), 31 % (40.2 %), 7.3 % (0.1 %), and 27.3 % (26.4 %), respectively, to the PM2.5 load in Delhi. During peak pollution events (stubble-burning periods or wintertime), however, the contribution from the main sources (farm fires in Punjab–Haryana or local sources within Delhi) could reach 65 %–69 %. According to DSS, a 20 % (40 %) reduction in anthropogenic emissions across all NCR districts would result in a 12 % (24 %) reduction in PM2.5 in Delhi on a seasonal mean basis. DSS is a critical tool for policymakers because it provides such information daily through a single simulation with a plethora of emission reduction scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most textile manufacturing companies in the world heavily rely on manual labor, particularly in the fabric inspection section, especially for cotton fabric. Establishing smart manufacturing systems like industrial automation in the textile industry for cotton fabric inspection is important for error-free inspection. The proposed make-to-order (MTO) inventory model focuses on the strategic development of a supply chain network under fuzzy uncertainty. The distinctiveness of this research lies in integrating a methodology that involves human and machine interaction, along with allocating resources to investment in smart manufacturing. This article presents a case study of the Jagatjit Cotton Textiles (JCT) manufacturing company in Punjab, India, as an example to validate the model and check the performance of SMT in the fabric inspection process in cotton TC mills. This paper contributes by developing four distinct textile supply chain models with industrial automation under triangular and trapezoidal fuzzy demand. A numerical analysis is conducted to verify the effectiveness of installing automated fabric inspection machines in the cotton plant. This article proposes an iterative solution algorithm (KDPMG) to obtain the global optimum for the proposed model. A comparative study of the proposed algorithm, KDPMG, and the genetic algorithm (GA) is presented in this study to verify the credibility of the obtained results. It is observed that KDPMG provides more appropriate solutions to the problem compared to the GA. Moreover, the computational time of KDPMG is significantly less than that of the GA. The rigorous analysis reveals that maximum profit can be achieved under trapezoidal fuzzy demand with fully automated fabric inspection technology. Using a triangular fuzzy demand pattern, the model with fully automated smart manufacturing achieves an 8.62% higher profit compared to a traditional system. Similarly, in the case of a trapezoidal fuzzy demand pattern, the adoption of automation in cotton plants can achieve an 8.69% higher profit. Hence, the implementation of smart manufacturing systems in the mending section of the cotton textile industry proves to be more profitable compared to the traditional inspection process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: One of the approaches to represent scientific publications in a field of science is to determine research trends and hot topics. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the research trends on the Library and Information Science (LIS) in the Scopus database during 2011-2020 and specify the hot topics in this field from July 2020 to July 2021. Materials and Methods: This study used scientometric techniques. The research population consisted of all papers in the field of LIS from July 2011 to July 2021. The data were collected from the Scopus database. The results were limited to 2011-2020 for determining the research trends in the field of LIS and from July 2020 to July 2021 for specifying the hot topics in this field. Data were analyzed using the word co-occurrence and social network analysis techniques, and UCINet, NetDraw, and VOSviewer software were used to draw scientific maps and identify core topics and individuals. Results: The keywords "Systematic Review" (frequency=531) and "Bibliometrics" (frequency=51) had the highest and lowest frequencies, respectively. "Libraries and information technology" (n=151), "research methods" (n=70), and "databases" (n=23) were the three important topic clusters in the study area, in which the United States, China, and the United Kingdom were the three most active countries, respectively. The Department of Library and Information Science, University of London, with 71 documents, and the Department of Information Management, University of Punjab, with 55 documents, had the most significant contribution of article publication among the influential institutions. Moreover, Zhang, Yut, and Wang, Liying each with 27 documents, and Li, Xiano with 24 documents were three active and influential authors in this field. In addition, "systematic review", "diffusion pattern", and "bibliometric" were also three hot topics. Conclusion: This study revealed that the orientation of the LIS research is going from traditional topics toward novel and emerging technologies. The results of this study can provide valuable information to researchers in LIS at the domestic and international levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A robust assessment of water used in agriculture, including livestock production systems and supply chains, is critical to inform diversification and the development of productivity and sustainable food production systems. This paper presents a detailed analysis of water used and consumed in nine dairy milk processing plants spread across Punjab, India's leading dairy milk-producing state. Over the five years (2015–2019), the direct water use (DWU) was quantified at 3.31 L of groundwater per kg of milk processed. Only about 26% of the direct water used was consumed, including evaporative losses in various milk processing operations, while the remaining 74% was returned as effluent discharges. The average total water footprint (TWF), accounting for both direct and indirect water consumption, was quantified at 9.0 L of water per kg of milk processed. The majority share (~89%) of the total water footprint was contributed by the indirect water footprint associated with the consumption of electricity (energy) in dairy milk processing activities. The plant's milk processing capacity and processing products mix also affected significant seasonal and annual variations in the direct and indirect water footprints of dairy milk processing. The analysis also found an inverse relationship between the average total water footprint and the average monthly amount of milk processed in the study plants. Therefore, efforts to reduce the indirect water footprint (associated with energy consumption), the treatment and recycling of effluent discharges, and the optimization of milk processing capacity, the dairy processing product mix, and the locations of dairy processing plants are expected to help reduce the water footprint of dairy processing in the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid renewable energy sources are sustainable and eco-friendly and challenge the alternative sources of conventional energy production facilities. Pakistan's present energy dilemma is a serious impediment to its economic progress. This paper proposes a techno-economic analysis of commercial-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems for commercial agricultural farms in Punjab, Pakistan. A survey was conducted to gather the load data of the farms from major cities of north, center, and south Punjab. For the PV system design, the K-means approach was used to cluster data from 93 farmers into nine clusters with similar electrical consumption. A complete technical, economic, and environmental study is undertaken of the PV systems deployed in five selected cities. The most practical locations are Attock and Multan, which have the lowest Levelized Cost of Energy at 5.52 and 5.37 cents/kWh, respectively. PV installations are nevertheless technically, economically, and environmentally feasible for all cities. Throughout its lifespan, the planned PV system has the potential for Faisalabad and Chiniot to minimize 154 metric tons of emissions, resulting in a greener environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are the haemotophagous arthropods causing livestock and public health threats. Among various control methods of ticks, chemical control remains the cornerstone especially in the resource-poor communities; however, their extensive or inappropriate use leads to the development of acaricidal resistance. In this regard, efficacy of the commonly used acaricides used in the field must be evaluated and alternate methods should be considered to overcome the prevailing resistance. Thus, the present study was aimed to investigate the acaricidal efficacy of over-the-counter i.e., ivermectin (IVM) in comparison with that of entomopathogenic fungus (EPF); Metarhizium (M.) anisopliae against adults of Hyalomma (H.) anatolicum ticks collected from the selected districts of southern Punjab, Pakistan. The tick specimens appropriately collected in pre-labelled screw-capped plastic bottles, with holes created for aeration, transferred to laboratory for further processing where the ticks were washed and dried over tissue paper. Various doses of the treatments viz.,1%, 1.5%, 2% and 2.5% of IVM and 1×105, 1×106, 1×107 and 1×108 of M. anisopliae were prepared. Sham treatment was made through 1% Triton-X for IVM and 0.1% (v/v) Tween ® 80 for M. anisopliae. A total of 900 partially fed female hard ticks in 10 batches and three repeats were subjected to in vitro Adult Immersion Test (AIT). The best dose of IVM against H. anatolicum was 2.5%, a higher dose, and M. anisopliae gave best results at 1×108. The LC50 (107 spores/ml) and LC90 (108 spores/ml) of M. anisopliae were proved more effective as compared to all IVM concentrations. The results conclude M. anisopliae can be a potential as an augmentative strategy to control hard ticks. However, toxicity trials of M. anisopliae are needed to be done for safety check before their recommendation in the practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the events and circumstances that shape the voter's decisions and their involvement in the electoral process. It also aims to analyze factors that have affected electoral politics and voting behavior in the Punjab Assembly election. India's geo-political, socio-economic, cultural, and religious conditions played an important role in the formation, identity, and growth of the political parties in Punjab. The present study deals with the comparative analysis of the major political organizations and their role in future political developments in the province. This research article also provides a deep political insight into the nature and quality invested in the leadership of the Punjab political parties. The paper analyzes the analytical overview of Punjab's electoral politics from the 2012 to 2022 Assembly elections. Lok Sabha elections 2019 initially seemed to be a direct fight in the State of Punjab between the traditional rivals of politics, i.e., the Shiromani Akali Dal—Bharatiya Janata Party alliance and the Congress Party. But the excellent performance of the newly formed Aam Aadmi Party made it a triangular contest between the Shiromani Akali Dal—Bharatiya Janata Party alliance, Congress, and Aam Aadmi Party. The study examines the causes for the Aam Aadmi Party's landslide success in Punjab elections and why residents overwhelmingly voted for the Delhi model of development promised by the party in the state's 16th assembly election. The present study is based on secondary data sources and adapted the qualitative and quantitative methods. Participatory research methods, narratives, discourses, and grounded theory are the fundamental approaches besides correlation, technique, and geo-spatial mapping. The data has been analyzed and interpreted with the help of various statistical methods like simple statistics and cartographic techniques for analyzing data like percentages, choropleth, line Graphs, and Arc GIS 10.2. It is being observed that political party-based association, local groupings, language, class, factors of caste, biradari, ideology, and religious identities are the main contributing factors in defining the trend of voting behavior in Punjab. The emergence of Aam Admi party as a dominant political force in electoral politics of Punjab is reflected in the crucial adaptation of civic politics based on its profound Delhi Model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing regimen of behavioral finance has given birth to new research in this arena. Behavioral finance has unfolded new assumptions that stand in sharp contrast to the standard finance. The macro and micro behavioral finance talk about the inefficiencies of the financial markets and the bounded rationality of the investors. The present study brings into the forefront some common behavioral biases and the factors influencing the investment behavior of individual investors. The paper includes eight behavioral biases namely herding, home, anchoring, representative, overconfidence, gambler's fallacy, hindsight and confirmation bias. A sample of 400 respondents has been taken from two cities of Punjab i.e. Jalandhar and Amritsar. The College and University teachers serve as the respondents for this study. Factor Analysis has been applied for studying the factors affecting investment behavior of respondents while making investment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research expounds on the question of how the micro-foundations of power are constituted and manifested in middle class trader families? In the pursuit of answering this question, the present study aims to focus on the domestic sphere of traders who primarily belong to Nirankari Bazaar1 in Rawalpindi, historically a mercantilist city2. This work is based on my ethnographic study and observation of the community norms and practices within the homes of the traders. This work will explore how relationships in the domestic sphere are made, contested and befriended so as to know how the intra-group dynamics unfold in traders' families. The underlying focus of this is to understand the significance of women of traders in the making of the families, formulating or breaking linkages to consolidate or disintegrate the economic position of the trader. In this regard, we look at the institution of marriage as the basic unit of intra-group dynamics and relationships whereby 'new' relatives are designated as instrumental drivers of the family and house. The central argument in this study is how the new woman after being included in the trader household is expected to connect or disconnect family unity and property which is a marker of significance for the trader. The paper draws semblance with literature on domestic relationships in Punjab from the historic, economic and social context. Further, the paper is based on the theoretical foundation from Levi-Strauss's structural analysis within anthropology that explains, society as like language is based on rules and patterns that constitute the deeply embedded structures within. The embedded or unconscious3 structure in this case of marriage determines the subsequent conscious4 social relations and practices of making and unmaking alliances in the trader household. This purpose of the research is to elucidate the role of new women in contouring family dynamics despite the dominance of men in the traders families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public health policy depends on the management, quality, and coverage aspects. However, the assessment analysis of spatial patterns and distribution of public health services is still a challenge. This paper attempts to analyze the availability and accessibility of public health facilities in the Muktsar district of Punjab at the village level. Spatial and attribute data for public health facilities have been used within the GIS platform to produce accurate measures of accessibility. The average nearest neighbor tool has been used for spatial patterns of services in the district. Near analysis tool has been used to calculate distances from demand points (populations) to providers (facilities). Apart from these, the ratios of public health facilities to population were calculated for the identification of underserved and over-served areas. The study advocates that the spatial pattern of public health facilities is significantly clustered (p value 0.000) with a Z-score of − 5.18. It has been found that urban areas of the Muktsar district were identified as having a higher density of health facilities, whereas villages located in the marginal parts have the lowest density of health facilities. When looking at the average distance from village centroids to health facilities, it varies considerably from village to village. Considerably less than 60 percent of the population living in 108 villages has access to public health facilities. Apart from these, 40 percent of the population living in 126 villages has the greatest increase in the distance while accessing these facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pakistan Journal of Gender Studies is the property of University of Karachi, Centre of Excellence for Women's Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Leadership plays a significant role in the performance of individuals and organizations. This paper investigates the impact of leadership styles on the innovative performance of female leaders in Pakistani Universities using a survey approach. This paper aimed to (a) discover a leadership style practiced by females and (b) discover the relationship between leadership style and the innovative performance of female leaders. Several female leaders, including faculty members, heads of departments, deans, coordinators, and directors, from public and private universities of Punjab (a province of Pakistan), were involved in this study. A sample of one hundred female leaders was selected using a multistage sampling method. In the first stage, five public and five private sector universities were selected through a simple random method. In the second stage, ten female leaders (five from each of the social science and basic science departments) were selected from each university through a purposive sampling method. The researchers adopted a reliable instrument to collect the survey data. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS (Version 26). Mean scores and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to discover the relationship between various variables. The investigation revealed that most female leaders practice the transactional leadership style in their universities. This study also discovered a moderate positive relationship between both leadership styles, namely transactional and transformational, and innovative performance. The study recommends that various workshops and seminars may be conducted to increase the practices of both leadership styles to enhance innovation in Pakistani Universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to analyse the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religious tourism in the Kartarpur Gurdwara Corridor between the Punjab States of Pakistan and India. The corridor was opened as a peace building initiative 72 years after the partition of India-Pakistan. In November 2019, thousands of Sikh pilgrims visited Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib in Punjab to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of the Sikh religion Guru Nanakji, where he spent last 19 years of his life. The Government of Pakistan invested heavily to build the infrastructure facilities for connecting both borders for religious tourism. The two phases of development of Kartarpur created economic opportunities for the growth of bilateral trade, religious tourism, diplomacy, and peaceful relationships. However, the COVID-19 based travel lockdown caused devastating economic impacts on the Kartarpur religious tourism site and related businesses just four months after its opening. This paper highlights the importance of Kartarpur religious tourism and the devastating economic impact from COVID-19 on the niche spiritual tourism-based economy, employment, marketing, and peace associated with Kartarpur. Qualitative content analysis was adopted using quotes from internet sources to reach findings. Some opportunities are highlighted for a better understanding of global health issues, unified efforts to fight the pandemic and mutual support for spiritual tourism development among Indians and Pakistanis. Policy implications suggest that post-COVID-19, public-private partnership is needed to cooperatively plan, develop, and promote religious tourism, build awareness, and cooperate for common resource management for economic benefits. COVID-19 could be a cooperative stimulus for peaceful change through bilateral trade, travel, and tourism plans, based on responsible cross-border tourism for India and Pakistan; to create a mutually beneficial South-Asian economic success story. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alluvial floodplains were one of the major venues of the development and long-term transformation of urban agrarian-based societies. The historical relationship between human societies and riverine environments created a rich archaeological record, but it is one that is not always easy to access due to the dynamism of alluvial floodplains and the geomorphological processes driven their hydrological regimes. Alluvial floodplains are also targeted for urban and agricultural expansion, which both have the potential to pose threats to cultural heritage and the environment if not carefully managed. Analysis that combines Historical Cartography and Remote Sensing sources to identify potential archaeological sites and river palaeochannels is an important first step towards the reconstruction of settlement patterns in different historical periods and their relationship to the history of hydrological networks. We are able to use different computational methods to great effect, including algorithms to enhance the visualization of different features of the landscape; and for processing large quantity of data using Machine-Learning based methods. Here we integrate those methods for the first time in a single study case: a section of the Indus River basin. Using a combined approach, it has been possible to map the historical hydrological network in a detail never achieved before and identify hundreds of potential archaeological sites previously unknown. Discussing these datasets together, we address the interpretation of the archaeological record, and highlight how Remote Sensing approaches can inform future research, heritage documentation, management, and preservation. The paper concludes with a targeted analysis of our datasets in the light of previous field-based research in order to provide preliminary insights on how long-term processes might have re-worked historical landscapes and their potential implications for the study of settlement patterns in different Historical periods in this region, thereby highlighting the potential for such integrated approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The backlog of criminal cases is a worrying problem in various courts in Pakistan. The backlog, in terms of years, mostly exceeds five years to fix for an appeal after the conviction at the lower court. Whilst the accused may be detained for more than five years before being brought to court for trial, the average time taken for a case from the date of the first trial up to the decision of the Supreme Court is up to 25 years. This paper seeks to identify and examine factors that contribute to the backlog of cases in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. To achieve the objective, the researcher employed a socio-legal and doctrinal methodologies that combine legal analysis and interviews with Pakistan's criminal justice experts. Additionally, the data was collected from the office of the Regional Police Officer, Multan, Punjab Public Prosecution, Multan and District Courts of Multan from 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021. The analysis of laws includes the interpretation and workings of the Constitution of the Republic Islamic of Pakistan (1973) and the Criminal Procedure Code (1898) which contribute to the backlog of criminal cases in the Districts Court of Multan. Based on the analysis, it is posited that the causes of backlog include poor investigation, corruption, shortages of judges, unnecessary adjournments, and an outdated criminal justice system. The backlog of cases can only be overcome if these factors are solved through various measures that involve different stakeholders [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An innovative curriculum and effective Education system sets the foundation for any country's social, political, and economic progress. A feasible education system empowers the nation to attain its national goals successfully. The basic purpose of this research paper was to explore the different problems and factors regarding the effective developing curriculum at the school level. The preparation and implementation of an effective curriculum is one of the most challenging issues in Pakistan, especially in Punjab province. Many stakeholders are responsible for this alarming situation. But now, the government of Pakistan has taken a serious and sober step to this issue and PM Imran Khan has shown his serious concern to SNC in Pakistan. However, some severe problems and factors disturb the productive development of the curriculum in Pakistan. For this purpose, 50 senior subject specialists (SSS) were interviewed to know their perceptions and opinions about this national dilemma. This research is descriptive and a qualitative approach was applied to conduct this study. Results were explained after content and thematic analysis of the Semi-structured interviews of the participants. The development of an effective Curriculum is preferably an ongoing, continuous, dynamic and long term process, including prerequisites assessment, its designing and planning, training of school teachers, piloting, preparation and modification of the materials, proper monitoring and its complete implementation, evaluation and feedback of the implemented curriculum. The suggestions and recommendations will be helpful to improve and eradicate the problems regarding designing an effective curriculum at the school level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - In this competitive era, organizational sustainability is dependent on managing and retaining talented workers, by making the workplace more attractive and meaningful. This becomes possible through workplace spirituality (WS). Therefore, this paper was to analyze the effect of spirituality at workplace constructs; spiritual orientation, alignment of organizational values, compassion and meaningful work on talent retention. Methodology-This cross-sectional study was conducted on 396 respondents from private and public insurance companies operating in Punjab by applying a purposing sampling method. This study used Smart PLS 3.3.3 version software to test hypotheses. Findings - Results of PLS-SEM analysis that spirituality at the workplace construct (spiritual orientation, alignment of organizational values and meaningful work) have statistically significant and positive impact on talent retention. Compassion was insignificantly linked with talent retention in the insurance sector. Originality - The present study provides profound and essential insights for upcoming research and management practices, strengthening the workplace spirituality concept as a promising topic in HRM and organizational behavior field. This research has tested the influence of spirituality at the workplace on talent retention for the first time from the perspective of the insurance sector in Punjab (India). This research uses a unique approach and presents a new insight that provides exclusive findings regarding Indian insurance sector experts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saffron is a rare and valuable crop that is only cultivated in specific regions with suitable topographical conditions. To improve saffron cultivation, it is crucial to monitor and precisely control the crop's agronomic variables over at least one growth cycle to create a fully automated environment. To this end, agronomic variables in the Punjab region of India were analyzed and set points were calculated using third-order polynomial equations through the application of image processing techniques. The relationship between canopy cover, growth percentage, and agronomic variables was also investigated for optimal yield and quality. The addition of adulterants, such as turmeric and artificial colorants, to saffron is a major concern due to the potential for quality compromise and fraud by supply chain vendors. Hence, there is a need for devising an easy, reliable, and user-friendly mechanism to help in the detection of adulterants added to the saffron stigmas. This paper proposes an automated IoT-based saffron cultivation environment using sensors for determining set points of agronomical variables. In addition, a sensor-based chamber has been proposed to provide quality and adulteration checks of saffron and to eliminate product counterfeiting. The AquaCrop simulator was employed to evaluate the proposed framework's performance. The results of the simulation show improved biomass, yield, and harvest index compared with the existing solutions in precision agriculture. Given the high value and demand for saffron, ensuring its purity and quality is essential to sustain its cultivation and the economic viability of the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) is a vector-borne viral disease caused by the RNA virus which belongs to the genus Ephemerovirus and the family Rhabdoviridae. To evaluate the effect of the risk factors like the breed of cattle and buffaloes, age, sex, lactation, housing and region on the bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) prevalence, ELISA and virus neutralisation (VN) tests (n = 600) were performed for the BEFV prevalence. The seroprevalence in cattle was 45.6% and 42% by ELISA and VN, respectively (P = 0.001). The breed-wise seropositive ratio was (55-64%) in cattle and (22.5-18.3%) in buffaloes by VN and ELISA. The sex-wise prevalence was (40-49.4%) in females and (35.8-46%) in males by VN and ELISA in cattle and a similar prevalence was reported in buffaloes. The age-wise prevalence in bovines by ELISA was 5.33, 22.66 and 17.66% in the age group < 1 year, 1-3 years and > 3 years, respectively. The disease prevalence was higher in the age group of 1-3 years. The prevalence was higher during the 3rd lactation in bovines. The region-wise prevalence was higher in the 07 districts while lower (18-21%) in Rawalpindi District by VN and ELISA, respectively (P = 0.001). Commercial dairy farms of cattle showed a higher disease prevalence (52% and 44%) than non-commercial farms (38% and 36%) by ELISA and VN, respectively (P = 0.227). Exotic cows showed higher disease prevalence (76.67% and 70%) by ELISA and VN. The mortality in bovines was 5% (7.7% and 2.3%) in the cattle and buffaloes. The case fatality of BEFV in bovines was 12.25%. There was a significant effect of the risk factors like the breed, age, sex, lactation, housing and region on the BEFV prevalence. This is the first comprehensive study of BEFV in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern means of communication, economic crises, and political decisions play imperative roles in reshaping political and administrative systems throughout the world. Twitter, a micro-blogging website, has gained paramount importance in terms of public opinion-sharing. Manual intelligence of law enforcement agencies (i.e., in changing situations) cannot cope in real time. Thus, to address this problem, we built an alert system for government authorities in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. The alert system gathers real-time data from Twitter in English and Roman Urdu about forthcoming gatherings (protests, demonstrations, assemblies, rallies, sit-ins, marches, etc.). To determine public sentiment regarding upcoming anti-government gatherings (protests, demonstrations, assemblies, rallies, sit-ins, marches, etc.), the alert system determines the polarity of tweets. Using keywords, the system provides information for future gatherings by extracting the entities like date, time, and location from Twitter data obtained in real time. Our system was trained and tested with different machine learning (ML) algorithms, such as random forest (RF), decision tree (DT), support vector machine (SVM), multinomial naïve Bayes (MNB), and Gaussian naïve Bayes (GNB), along with two vectorization techniques, i.e., term frequency–inverse document frequency (TFIDF) and count vectorization. Moreover, this paper compares the accuracy results of sentiment analysis (SA) of Twitter data by applying supervised machine learning (ML) algorithms. In our research experiment, we used two data sets, i.e., a small data set of 1000 tweets and a large data set of 4000 tweets. Results showed that RF along with count vectorization performed best for the small data set with an accuracy of 82%; with the large data set, MNB along with count vectorization outperformed all other classifiers with an accuracy of 75%. Additionally, language models, e.g., bigram and trigram, were used to generate the word clouds of positive and negative words to visualize the most frequently used words. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study/paper is first to determine the impact of perceived recovery justice (PRJ) (as a second-order construct) on recovery satisfaction and repurchase intentions; secondly, to investigate the mediating impact of customer affection and recovery satisfaction (on the relationship between PRJ and repurchase intentions and satisfaction and repurchase intentions, respectively); and thirdly, to examine the moderating effect of gender on the relationships between PRJ–recovery satisfaction–repurchase intentions. Design/methodology/approach: The authors used a self-administrated survey technique for data collection. Afterwards, partial least square structural equation modelling was used to evaluate the data from 300 respondents (the automotive insurance industry in Punjab, Pakistan). Findings: The findings show that PRJ, recovery satisfaction and customer affection positively predict repurchase intentions. PRJ also indirectly predicts repurchase intentions through the mediating effect of recovery satisfaction. Gender has a contingent effect on the PRJ–customer satisfaction–repurchase intentions relationship, such that the effect is higher for females than males. These findings have important theoretical and practical implications. To counter service failure, this study helps to draft effective strategies and policies for the insurance industry to make customers loyal patrons. Practical implications: These findings have important theoretical and practical implications. To counter service failure, this study helps to draft effective strategies and policies for the insurance industry to make customers loyal patrons. Originality/value: This study also tested a novel relationship, in that the authors used customer affection as a mediating factor between the satisfaction and repurchase intentions relationship. Moreover, the authors also tested the moderating role of gender in PRJ–recovery satisfaction–repurchase intentions associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper intends to examine academic library services and facilities for university students at the tertiary level in Punjab. It has been observed that all educational institutions specifically higher education has an academic library to facilitate the students in terms of their academic activities and research-oriented tasks. This study has been conducted to measure the response of library patrons of two Public Sector Universities in Punjab, Pakistan. The unit of analysis has been based on the enrolled students of the University of Gujrat, Gujrat, and Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan. A sample of 16 students (8 students from each university and half male and female student ratio) has been selected using a purposive sampling technique. An interview guide has been developed and a case study method has been used to conduct in-depth interviews of the library Patrons. It is worth stating that researchers conducted interviews in the academic library of the relevant universities' main campus. Data analysis has been done with reference thematic analysis technique. The study finding asserted that library patrons reported that research support services and internet facilities had been provided by the library administration. Similarly, the study findings revealed that a silent zone of study, printing, and photocopy facility had been provided to support academic activities at the university. Likewise, the study results indicated that an online public access catalog, reference and periodical section, and open reading area had also been provided by the library staff to the library patron for the smooth running of research activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semantic analysis is a particular technique, which is an interesting area of research that associates with Natural Language Processing (NLP), artificial intelligence, opinion mining, text clustering, and classification. Numerous text processing techniques are being used to find out sentiments from the comments, such as social media tweets, hoax, fiction, nonfiction, novels, books, movies, health care, and stock exchange. Agrarian experts' opinions play a vital role in the agriculture sector that yields good crop productivity. This paper presents a descriptive analysis of agriculture experts' opinions through machine learning methods based on textual data collection. The data has been collected by surveying various academia, research institute, and industry of Punjab, Pakistan. The impact of various agricultural inputs such as seed quality, soil quality, soil-intensive tillage, climate changes, water shortage, synthetic fertilizer, and precision technologies on crop productivity have been collected through questionnaires. This research provides a descriptive analysis of collected agrarians experts opinions to increase the crop yield by providing awareness regarding current agriculture inputs to farmers by using machine learning. The current research provides a cohesive expert guideline for improving crop productivity, useful for agricultural policymaking, and conveys adequate farmers' knowledge. Consequently, the proposed method is an innovative way of discovering recommendations of agrarians through sentiment analysis in survey data using machine learning methods. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, agrarians experts opinions on enhancing crop productivity have been considered for the first time in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Pakistan, due to the asymmetries in farmers' information access, many ICT-based initiatives have been taken as an alternative to conventional agricultural extension approaches. Recently telecommunication sector of Pakistan has launched farm advisory services for reaching farmers' information needs. This paper analyzed the telecom sector's mobile-based farm advisory services (mFAS) by exploring, provided content, farmers' use, experiences, and its associated factors using the Likert scale and bivariate Probit regression. The study employed a multistage random sampling technique to collect data from the smallholders of Muzaffargarh district of Pakistan. Findings revealed that 70% of the respondents were subscribed to mFAS. Results further indicated a vast gap between the farmers' access and practical use of provided information in which weather forecast reported the most, while market updates reported the least utilization gap. Similarly, reduced transportation cost was ranked the most, while avoiding potential crop damages was ranked as the least perceived indicators of effectiveness. The study further reported one-way communication mode and farmers' limited skills of mobile phone use as the major constraint in the use of the services. The results of the Probit model found a significant positive relation of farmers' education, credit utilization, and educated family members, while a significant negative relation of farmers' age with the use of mFAS. Based on findings, this study highlights the need for an interactive communication mode, context-specific advisory services, and farmers' training and education for the successful utilization of these services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pakistan Journal of Gender Studies is the property of University of Karachi, Centre of Excellence for Women's Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The use of production by-products as feedstock offers benefits in terms of circularity, waste reduction, and enhanced local value-add. In this paper, we examine the institutional and supply network collaborations required to shift from global to near-sourcing using by-products of previously unrelated production activities. The case study of straw stubble agri-waste is examined as it exhibits multiple product-process valorisation opportunities, generates social welfare gains for farmers, and addresses a critical societal need of reducing pollution. Drawing on circular economy and supply network configuration literature, the research involved the consideration of local resource availability, product-production process technology options, partnering arrangements, and network governance. The results reveal multiple feedstock product-process conversion scenarios, each representing potential intermediate and end-use products/markets. Two pathways were identified offering industrial-scale valorisation, namely straw-stubble as a feedstock for i) building products and ii) energy purposes. Circular supply network design parameters emerge from cross-case analysis suggesting alignment across feedstock network structure, product-processing pathways, and the configuration of public-private partnerships is necessary. This paper develops supply network configuration design approaches and related partnering models by providing a structured framework for identifying commerically viable by-product driven supply networks that leverage the proximity of non-traditional suppliers exploiting local resources. This research contributes to the design of circular supply networks and partnership configurations for the valorisation of by-products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing Laspeyres index, Paasche's index, and Fisher's index under classical statistics cannot be applied when observations are indeterminate, imprecise, and uncertain. In this paper, the Laspeyres index, Paasche's index, and Fisher's index are introduced to deal with the data having neutrosophy. We present these indexes when indeterminacy is present in the data. To see the aggregate change in the production of rice crops due to climate change under an uncertain environment, data is collected from nine districts of Punjab, Pakistan. From the data and comparative studies, it is concluded that the proposed indexes are more informative, flexible, and suitable to be applied under indeterminate conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper highlights the problems associated with the outlets in the irrigation system of Pakistan, leading to the design of outlets, to trace the gradual evolution of various outlets types and to describe most of the types that have been evolved so far. The advantages and limitations of each type have been examined critically so that the selection of a type for any particular set of conditions may be rendered easy. An outlet is a flow measuring and controlling device between farmer's land and an irrigation system. In Punjab about fifty thousand outlets irrigate an area of approximately 25.5 million acres annually. Improperly designed outlets may cause a number of problems such as variation in their coefficients of discharge, inequitable distribution of water, silting of canals, inadequate availability water at the lowest outlets, lack of incentives for saving of water and poor drainage. Field calibration of the irrigation outlets proved that their calibrated Cd. vary from the designed Cd. (0.6 for OF & 0.9 for AOSM), as outlets were not designed according to their designed parameters. Defective outlets were also the main cause of silting in canals. The pipe-cum-semi module was very helpful to draw silt from the bed of the parent channel in a case if we want a higher setting of outlet. 20% of canal water in Rabi season and 40% water in Kharif season were snatched by illegally Theft problem. In order to prevent theft, the outlets should be tamper proof and the irrigation department should adopt the legal procedure strictly. All over the world, the engineers and farmers designed and installed various kinds of farm outlets suiting their local conditions. Work is being carried out to make them structurally, hydraulically and economically fit. An attempt is made to bring all the information together leading to economical and efficient design of outlets and to look upon their possibility of adaptability in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants of general financial literacy, specific financial literacy and overall financial literacy among the Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) entrepreneurs. The data has been collected from 309 respondents from three districts in the Punjab state of India. Using ordered logit model, the results depict that the age of the entrepreneur has positive and significant effect on different types of financial literacy for the MSEs in Punjab. The findings also show that the micro and small-service enterprises have significantly higher level of financial literacy than its other manufacturing counterparts. The study also found that entrepreneurs with higher level of education have significantly higher level of all types of financial literacy. The most influencing determinant that affects the financial literacy of the entrepreneurs is found to be the level of gross profit ratio of the enterprise. Higher the gross profit ratio of the firm, significantly higher will be the level of all three types of financial literacy of the entrepreneurs. For policy perspectives, the present study recommends that firms should keep some portion of their profits to educate their employees that enhance the financial literacy. Government should help the MSEs to educate the firms to improve their level of financial literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary goal of this study is to analyses public trust in the Gujrat district's local government, which was constituted under the Punjab Local Government Act-2013. This Act established a local government system in which elected representatives were given "political, administrative, and fiscal responsibility and authority in order to promote good governance, effective service delivery, and transparent decision-making through institutionalized participation of the people at the local level" (Punjab Local Government Act 2013). This article assesses how satisfied Gujrat's people are with the governance, political participation, and fiscal management given by the local government system in order to assess the resultant public trust in local government. For this study, a survey of public opinion was undertaken in the district of Gujrat. Based on their responses to the most of questions asked concerning the performance of the local government system in relation to governance, political participation, and fiscal management, people demonstrated a higher level of trust in local government. The statistical analysis validates all hypotheses and the conceptual model, and demonstrates a direct significant relationship between fiscal management and trust in local government, between governance and trust in local government, and between political participation and trust in local government. The paper argue that local government is vital for strengthening participatory democracy in Pakistan. It is anticipated that in the long run, it would lead to the consolidation of democracy, the emergence of more capable leadership, and the growth of more responsive political parties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzootic bovine leucosis is caused by bovine leukaemia virus (BLV), a Deltaretrovirus belonging to the family Retroviridae. BLV causes huge economic losses to the dairy industry in the form of decreased milk production, premature culling, and poor reproductive performance of the animals. The aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of BLV infection in buffalo in two districts of Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 384 samples were collected and analysed using a commercial indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to investigate the seroprevalence of BLV through the detection of the anti-BLV gp51 antibody. A predesigned data questionnaire proforma was employed to find out the association of risk factors with disease. Overall, 18.2% of buffaloes were seropositive for BLV in the study population. The results revealed a significant association (P < 0.05) of age with BLV infection. Furthermore, milk yield and pregnancy had a significant association with the seroprevalence of BLV infection in buffalo whereas no significant association was found with sex, breeding, and health status. Biochemical and oxidative stress markers revealed a significant decrease in liver enzymes alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in seropositive animals as compared to healthy animals. It is concluded that BLV has a considerable prevalence in buffalo in Punjab, Pakistan and there is a dire need to investigate the disease epidemiology at both national and international levels and strategies should be developed to implement an effective control program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The burning of agricultural residue from previous season's rice crop, primarily in the states of Punjab and Haryana, is a key contributor to poor air quality during the winter across North India. Air quality can deteriorate to catastrophic levels during the Agricultural Waste Burning (AWB) season in October–November, when fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations can exceed WHO daily maxima over a sustained period by an order of magnitude or more, over a large swathe of the Indo-Gangetic plain. Over the past decade, attempts by Indian governments to change farmer behavior by incentivizing the use of novel technologies for managing rice residue without burning it have been met with little success. This paper uses farmer and expert interviews, as well as secondary data, to examine the barriers to adoption of these technologies in the state of Punjab. We analyze how operational factors (such as farm size, timing, technology availability, and choice) affect a farmers' decision to choose (or not) a rice residue management practice. We develop a financial model for analyzing the costs of residue management technologies that are consistent with the decision-making process of both small and large farmers. We find that more sustainable residue management practices can be cost effective relative to residue burn, especially when existing subsidies are applied. However, difficulties in accessing technological alternatives to AWB and subsidies for their use and a lack of trust in the government's ability to deliver the full benefits of subsidies, all contribute the low adoption of technological alternatives to AWB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Canaria de Estudios Ingleses is the property of Universidad de La Laguna and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Canaria de Estudios Ingleses is the property of Universidad de La Laguna and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper discusses the newly developed Decision Support System version 1.0 (DSS v1.0) for air quality management activities in Delhi, India. In addition to standard air quality forecasts, DSS provides the contribution of Delhi, its surrounding districts, and stubble-burning fires in the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana to the PM2.5 load in Delhi. DSS also quantifies the effects of local and neighborhood emission-source-level interventions on the pollution load in Delhi. The DSS-simulated Air Quality Index for the post-monsoon and winter seasons of 2021-22 shows high accuracy (up to 80%) and a very low false alarm ratio (~20%) from Day 1 to Day 5 of the forecasts, especially when the ambient AQI is > 300. During the post-monsoon season (winter season), emissions from Delhi, the rest of the NCR districts, biomass-burning activities, and all other remaining regions on average contribute 34.4% (33.4%), 31% (40.2%), 7.3% (0.1%), and 27.3% (26.4%), respectively, to PM2.5 load in Delhi. During peak pollution events (stubble-burning periods), however, the contribution from sources within Delhi (farm fires in Punjab-Haryana) could reach 65% (69%). According to DSS, a 20% (40%) reduction in anthropogenic emissions across all NCR districts would result in a 12% (24%) reduction in PM2.5 in Delhi on a seasonal mean basis. DSS is a critical tool for policymakers because it provides such information daily through a single simulation with a plethora of emission reduction scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of gene actions governing begomovirus resistance and plant architectural traits is a prerequisite for a successful hybrid breeding programme. Therefore, the gene actions associated with these traits were studied in two intervarietal crosses of Cucurbita moschata (C1: Punjab Nawab × MVSR-6711 and C2: Punjab Nawab × P-135). We used the generation mean analysis of six generations for this purpose. Significant differences between the generation means were observed for all the traits in both crosses. The parental lines differed significantly in most of the studied traits. The nature and magnitude of the gene effects of seventeen traits varied by trait and cross. A simple additive dominance model was adequate for the internode number, leaf length and width, petiole length, fruit weight and cavity diameter in C1 and the number of fruits/plant in C2. The non-allelic interaction was found to be significant for a majority of the traits including the per cent disease index of the squash leaf curl China virus, tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus and their mixed infections, which indicated, that recurrent selection in biparental progeny might be useful for the accumulation of genes with additive effects. Duplicate epistasis was observed for the vine, internodal and peduncle length in C1 and the internode number, petiole and peduncle length, peduncle and fruit polar diameter in C2. This information will help to establish a breeding program for the simultaneous improvement of virus resistance and yield traits in pumpkins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is a key cash crop, and its production is influenced by a variety of phytopathogens in different parts of the world. During consecutive field surveys, sugarcane stalks with red rot symptoms were observed in three provinces of Pakistan (Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). Cane samples with visible symptoms were plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) media. Morphological and microscopic observations identified this pathogen as Colletotrichum falcatum. Comparative molecular study of amplified sequences of ß-tubulin (Bt) and actin (ACT) genes showed 100% similarity and ITS sequence showed 99% similarity with C. falcatum. For in vitro control of red rot, eight bacterial strains from the rhizosphere of sugarcane were isolated. These strains showed variable growth inhibition of C. falcatum in dual culture method. Among all tested strains, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and B. altitudinis exhibited best antifungal activities. Based on these results, tested bacterial strains (B. amyloliquefaciens and B. altitudinis) can be recommended as effective biocontrol agents to manage red rot disease of sugarcane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms through which organisational justice influences counterproductive work behaviour (CWB). This relationship was explained using a moderated mediation model where organisational embeddedness is a mediator between organisational justice and CWB, while psychological ownership (for the organisation) is a moderator of the relationship between organisational embeddedness and CWB. The conservation of resources (COR) theory was used as the underpinning theory to explain the interrelationships among the constructs. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected by administering a quantitative cross-sectional survey to employees of Punjab Police, a large public sector, law enforcement organisation in Pakistan. The study model was analysed using PLS-SEM to address the treatment of higher-order reflective-formative constructs. Findings: The results showed that organisational justice is positively related to organisational embeddedness, while organisational embeddedness is negatively related to CWB. Organisational embeddedness was found to play a significant role in mediating the negative effects of organisational justice on CWB. Also, psychological ownership moderated the influence of organisational embeddedness on CWB in an interesting fashion. CWB was the highest when both embeddedness and ownership were low; however, CWB was not the lowest when both embeddedness and ownership were high. Research limitations/implications: Reliance on self-report data, not accounting for the community embeddedness and discounting the differential effects of justice dimensions are some of the limitations of the present study. Despite these limitations, this study offers valuable insights into how the occurrence of CWB can be minimised. That is, apart from providing a work environment based on fair procedures and policies, it is critically important to manage the perceptions of embeddedness and psychological ownership of employees. Originality/value: Although numerous researchers have studied the link between organisational justice and CWB, few have explored the roles of organisational embeddedness and psychological ownership in this relationship. This study thus posits a novel moderated mediation mechanism, based on the COR theory, through which organisational justice is translated into CWB. Moreover, this study adds value by investigating this model in the police force context, where justice and CWB have important consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis remains a formidable global health challenge, with drug-resistant strains posing significant hurdles in its eradication efforts. Addressing the challenge of drug-resistant and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis requires a multifaceted approach encompassing enhanced diagnostics, novel therapeutics, and patient-centered care models. This study aims to find the treatment outcomes of DR-TB patients registered at tertiary care settings along estimation of impact of associated adverse events. This retrospective study was undertaken at a tertiary care setting of Lahore Punjab Pakistan during the year 2023. Using a predefined scheme of variables data was collected Regression analysis was applied by taking death and treatment failure as adverse outcomes excluding the treatment defaulter patients as their final fate was not known. A total of 1438 drug resistant TB patients comprising of 49.4% males and 50.6 females with mean age of patients at the time of registration as 35.08±15.91 years were included in final analysis. A high number of 17.4% patients were died, 56.2% patients were cured and 10.4% successfully completed their treatment. Rate of loss to follow up was noted to be 11.1% and treatment failure were 4.9% in this study. Regression model showed that patients aged =34 years, patients having previous history of treatment and treatment strategy other than LTR are at greater risk of adverse events. Overall success rate of treatment remained to be 66.6% remained far below of the target laid down by the WHO. A high mortality rate was found to be associated with drug resistant tuberculosis patients. Age =34 years, prior history of TB treatment and treatment strategy are risk factors for death of DR TB patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western disturbances (WD) bring moderate to heavy rain in the northern parts of the country as well as heavy snow to the mountain areas of the Indian subcontinent. It is the source of most of the winter and post-monsoon rainfall in northwest India. Spatio-temporal analysis of western disturbances was carried out by using weather data recorded at Ballowal Saunkhri (sub-mountainous region), Ludhiana (central plain region) and Bathinda (south west region). The WD events per month were lowest in November and highest in March month averaged over all the agroclimatic regions. The highest numbers of WD events were found during February month in the Sub-mountainous region and during March in central plain region and south-western region. Winter rainfall quantity and number of rainfall events were higher in the sub-mountainous region followed by the central plain region and lowest in the south-western region. Higher number of WD during wheat growing season along with less and well distributed rainfall resulting in lower maximum temperature conditions were conducive for higher productivity in Punjab. The significantly positive correlation was observed between the number of western disturbances and wheat productivity during April month at central plain region and southwest region, whereas, the seasonal total number of WDs showed significant positive relationship at submontane region and southwest region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many years, Pakistan's economic progress and development have primarily depended on agriculture. However, widespread rural poverty impairs agricultural productivity, which worsens the outlook for growth for both the agricultural sector and the nation as a whole. Raising farmers' incomes through rural development is a key component of agricultural reform, and the prime objective of this study is to identify how government policies and foreign aid affect Pakistan's degree of rural poverty. This research aims to check the mediating role of rural development for the relationship of foreign aid, agricultural production, and corporate social responsibility with poverty reduction. This research also examines the moderating role of government support in the relationship of rural development with poverty reduction. In this regard, the current study proposes four hypotheses of direct relationships, three mediating relationships, and one moderating relationship. The population comprised farmers. The sample size of 119 was determined using G*Power with medium effect size settings, ensuring a robust representation of the target group. To gather primary data, a close-ended structured questionnaire was administered, employing a 7-point Likert scale to gather respondents' opinions. This study investigates the Punjab province's agricultural landscape from a quantitative perspective, using convenient sampling to identify the characteristics that contribute to reducing poverty, and was conducted from January to December 2023. Analytical procedures utilizing Smart PLS 4.0.9.6 for SEM testing reveal that all proposed hypotheses, including direct, mediating, and moderating, are accepted. The main results show that rural development significantly mediates the relationship between foreign aid, agricultural production, and corporate social responsibility with poverty reduction. Furthermore, government support positively moderates the relationship between rural development and poverty reduction. The findings underscore the significance of rural development, coupled with government support, as a pivotal factor in effectively reducing poverty in Pakistan's economic landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the contemporary business environment, the utilization of technology has become indispensable for organizations seeking to create value and secure a competitive advantage. Faced with the challenges of a competitive landscape, companies are compelled to adopt more sophisticated strategies, resulting in advancements in HR practices. Currently, prominent organizations and institutions are enthusiastically embracing the e-HRM phenomenon, recognizing that cultivating value for internal customers proves to be a more efficacious approach in achieving strategic objectives. The focal point of the study was to succinctly explore this concept and scrutinize the relationship between e-HRM practices-specifically Operational, e-Recruitment, e-Compensation, and Transformation- and employee productivity within a sample of five hospitals in Punjab. Drawing insights from existing literature, the study crafted a framework and established linkages between these e-HRM constructs. Utilizing PLS software, the author executed a measurement model to assess the reliability and validity of the data, followed by the implementation of a structural model for regression testing. The findings illuminated a positive impact of e-HRM practices, notably Operational, Transformational, and e-Compensation, on employee productivity, aligning with prior research. However, it was observed that e-Recruitment did not exhibit a significant correlation with employee productivity. This observation was attributed to prevalent recruitment practices in countries like Pakistan, where reliance on references and non-electronic methods is more common. The paper concluded by delving into the implications, acknowledging limitations, and proposing future directions for research in this domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 is a novel disease caused by a newly identified virus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). India recorded its first case of COVID-19 on 30 January 2020. This work is an attempt to calculate the number of COVID-19 cases in Punjab by solving a partial differential equation using the modified cubic B-spline function and differential quadrature method. The real data of COVID-19 cases and Google Community Mobility Reports of Punjab districts were used to verify the numerical simulation of the model. The Google mobility data reflect the changes in social behavior in real time and therefore are an important factor in analyzing the spread of COVID-19 and the corresponding precautionary measures. To investigate the cross-border transmission of COVID-19 between the 23 districts of Punjab with an analysis of human activities as a factor, the 23 districts were divided into five regions. This paper is aimed at demonstrating the predictive ability of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on teacher education regarding relationship among three variables of the study i.e., Organizational Justice, Job Satisfaction, and Turnover Intention. This study aims at exploring the effect of organizational justice on job satisfaction and turnover intention among teacher educators of public universities in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is an ex post facto study. A quantitative survey was used for collection of data for the study from 46 teacher educators serving in public universities which offer BS, M.Phil. and/or Ph.D. in the subject of education. It is evident from the results of this study that organizational justice significantly and positively affects job satisfaction among teacher educators. Furthermore, organizational justice has an inverse relationship with turnover intention among teacher educators although the effect is not significant. This study, to a large extent, confirms the results of certain similar studies about the three constructs i.e., organizational justice, job satisfaction and turnover intention. The specific situation in the field of teacher education of public sector may be compared with the earlier research work about other organizations/professions in general. The results regarding turnover intention among teacher educators being less similar to the previous ones about turnover intention suggest to explore the factors responsible for this dissimilarity. This may open new lines for researchers. Furthermore, the literature gap about teacher education has also been addressed through this study as no similar research about Teacher Education has been conducted in Pakistan yet according to knowledge of the researcher. This may also help the policy makers to review their line of action and to make informed decisions for improvement of teacher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The centralized and decentralized planning approaches as affirmed through ‘Post Flood Disaster Management Institutions’ (PFDMI), at provincial management level in Punjab deliberate peculiar impacts within. A macro- level analysis of land use planning of the region will establish the optimum course of strategic disaster risk reduction approaches. For a prolific research analysis of effectivity of integrated and devolved systems of hierarchy involved in flood mitigation mechanism within Punjab,certain qualitative and quantitative methods are utilized in this research to evaluate the effectiveness of management in disaster risk reduction. Another important factor in determining a suitable approach for hierarchy depends upon type of organizations which are responsible for funding the disaster hit regions. The structure of ‘Matching Grant’ at local level in Punjab has therefore been discussed in this research paper to evaluate its effectivity and relational reference for future policies. Similarly the cohesion of prospective management in reference to disaster prone areas in Punjab, may vary with regard to various locations or regions. The macro outlook of fundamental data analysis with respect to centralized and decentralized approaches applied in flood prone areas of Punjab in Pakistan will formulate an overall viewpoint for adopting relevant strategy to deal with disaster risk reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]