Search

Paper mulberry pollen, declared a pest in several countries including Pakistan, can trigger severe allergies and cause asthma attacks. We aimed to develop an algorithm that could accurately predict high pollen days to underpin an alert system that would allow patients to take timely precautionary measures. We developed and validated two prediction models that take historical pollen and weather data as their input to predict the start date and peak date of the pollen season in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan. The first model is based on linear regression and the second one is based on phenological modelling. We tested our models on an original and comprehensive dataset from Islamabad. The mean absolute errors (MAEs) for the start day are 2.3 and 3.7 days for the linear and phenological models, respectively, while for the peak day, the MAEs are 3.3 and 4.0 days, respectively. These encouraging results could be used in a website or app to notify patients and healthcare providers to start preparing for the paper mulberry pollen season. Timely action could reduce the burden of symptoms, mitigate the risk of acute attacks and potentially prevent deaths due to acute pollen-induced allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of optical technology is currently being studied extensively to meet the significant demand for bandwidth. The passive optical network (PON) solves the problem of bandwidth as it extends the optical network to individuals and businesses [Sifta R, Munster P, Krajsa O, Filka M, "Simulation of bidirectional traffic in WDM-PON networks", Brno University of Technology, ISSN 0033–2097, R. 90 NR 1/2014.]. In this paper, a comparative study is made between the WDM PON system and the CWDM PON system using two different architectures, one for the WDM PON and the other for the CWDM PON, to illustrate the appropriate technique for the PON network by increasing the Q factor and the OSNR ratio while minimizing the bit error rate (BER < 10–9). Both systems are simulated at 10 Gbps for four users of bidirectional SMF (Single Mode Fiber) fiber lengths and different powers. In order to determine the transmission performance for both systems, the link was designed for fiber lengths of 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 km as well as for powers from −10 dBm up to 10 dBm for four users. The use of the EDFA amplifier in the WDM PON system is required in this document to minimize degradation caused by attenuation [Parkirti RDK, Singh R. Cost-efficient Colorless WDM-PON Based on RSOA for High Capacity. Int J Adv Res Comput Eng Technol (IJARCET). 2016;5]. On the contrary, in the CWDM PON system, the amplification is not essential because the wavelengths used in this system are not affected by the water peak which causes a strong attenuation of the wavelengths in the 1370–1410 nm range on optical fibers [Nazir M, Arshad F, Asif R. Design and evaluation of power budget for a bidirectional CWDM-Passive Optical Network. In: International Conference on Communication, Computing and Digital Systems (C-CODE), Islamabad, Pakistan, 04 May 2017.]. The peak of water vapor absorption is close to 1383 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to highlight the fact that great literature of the world is not meant for entertainment only but for the proper understanding of the world around. The international Literature of the World have always been very philosophical in nature. Now the question arises what is the difference or the similarity between Philosophy and Literature? In the humble opinion of the writer of this article, this difference and similarity can be explained by the proper understanding of the Situational and Perennial Themes in Literature. For this purpose, the plays of Shakespeare (especially tragedies), the novels of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky and the short stories of Gorky and Chekov are studied. The study is fundamentally theoretical and qualitative in nature. Finally, the author recommends that one needs to understand the importance of great literature and the role of imagination; necessary for every kind of creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of BPA - Applied Psychology Bulletin (Bollettino di Psicologia Applicata) is the property of Giunti O.S. Organizzazioni Speciali 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 article focuses on the lived experiences of Pathan girls living in the slum areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad along with their families. These girls work in the informal economy of Pakistan. The aim of this paper is to analyse the daily lives of Pathan girls in general and the role of family in particular through social relations approach and concept of patriarchal bargain. It is argued that there are a number of intersecting factors including family traditions and norms that limit the lives of these young girls. These factors hinder the young girls from gaining access and completing education while involved in the formal economy. This paper concludes that Pathan girls have been controlled by men through their cultural traditions and norms for centuries. It is suggested that the subordinate position of girls in the family needs to be addressed by involving men of the family at the household level and in the society overall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pakistani state signed a number of peace agreements with the Taliban between 2004 and 2015. Despite their significance, hardly any academic evaluations of these agreements exist. This paper assesses these peace deals from three perspectives: political settlements, culture and conflict resolution and cosmopolitan protection. We argue that they failed due to the following reasons: the Pakistani state was more concerned with the interests of the central government in Islamabad than those in the tribal borderlands; the agreements clashed with the unique tribal cultural code of Pashtunwali; and they represented a solution imposed on the tribal societies from the outside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic showed distinct waves where cases ebbed and flowed. While each country had slight, nuanced differences, lessons from each wave with country-specific details provides important lessons for prevention, understanding medical outcomes and the role of vaccines. This paper compares key characteristics from the five different COVID-19 waves in Pakistan. Methods: Data was sourced from daily national situation reports (Sitreps) prepared by the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) in Islamabad. We use specific criteria to define COVID-19 waves. The start of each COVID-19 wave is marked by the day of the lowest number of daily cases preceding a sustained increase, while the end is the day with the lowest number of cases following a 7-days decline, which should be lower than the 7 days following it. Key variables such as COVID-19 tests, cases, and deaths with their rates of change to the peak and then to the trough are used to draw descriptive comparisons. Additionally, a linear regression model estimates daily new COVID-19 deaths in Pakistan. Results: Pakistan saw five distinct waves, each of which displayed the typical topology of a complete infectious disease epidemic. The time from wave-start to peak became progressively shorter, and from wave-peak to trough, progressively longer. Each wave appears to also be getting shorter, except for wave 4, which lasted longer than wave 3. A one percent increase in vaccinations decreased deaths by 0.38% (95% CI: -0.67, -0.08) in wave 5 and the association is statistically significant. Conclusion: Each wave displayed distinct characteristics that must be interpreted in the context of the level of response and the variant driving the epidemic. Key indicators suggest that COVID-19 preventive measures kept pace with the disease. Waves 1 and 2 were mainly about prevention and learning how to clinically manage patients. Vaccination started late during wave 3 and its impact on hospitalizations and deaths became visible in wave 5. The impact of highly virulent strains Alpha/B.1.1.7 and Delta/B.1.617.2 variants during wave 3 and milder but more infectious Omicron/B.1.1.529 during wave 5 are apparent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The power transformer is an essential component of the electrical network that can be used to step up and step down voltage. Dissolved gas analysis (DGA) is the most reliable method for the identification of incipient faults in power transformers. Various DGA methods are used to observe the generated key gases after oil decomposition. The main gases included are hydrogen (H2), ethylene (C2H4), acetylene (C2H2), methane (CH4), and ethane (C2H6). There is a lack of research that can compare the performance of various DGA methods in identification of faults in power transformer. In addition, it is also not clear which DGA method is optimal for identification of faults in power transformer. In this paper, the comparative performance study of seven DGA methods such as Roger's ratio, key gas, IEC ratio, the Doernenburg ratio, the Duval triangle, three-ratio method, and the relative percentage of four gases is carried out in order to identify the optimal technique for fault identification in transformer. The data of various power transformers installed in "RAWAT" NTDC grid station, Islamabad, and "UCH-II" power station, Balochistan, are considered for the comparative analysis. This analysis shows that the three-ratio method provides better performance than other DGA methods in accurately identifying the faults in power transformers. The three-ratio method has 90% accuracy in identifying the faults in power transformer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sources of Conflicts between Key Stakeholders in a Public Construction Project: A Case Study of Construction of Research & Academic Facilities (CRAF) Project. Several studies have been carried on conflicts involving key stakeholders of construction projects in the literature. However, a detailed discussion on conflicts between key stakeholders of public construction projects in the higher education sector of Pakistan is absent from the literature. Therefore, current research has aimed to address this gap by conducting a case study on the Construction of Research & Academic Facilities (CRAF) project. The CRAF project is being implemented by the Government of Pakistan in a Higher Education Institution located in the federal capital Islamabad. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the key stakeholders who were directly involved during the execution phase of the CRAF project. Results of this research are based on the collected data from the key stakeholders. The main findings suggest that the task-focused issues such as defective design, excessive quantity variations, and excessive change orders, etc. are causing conflicts between the key stakeholders of the project. Such conflicts in turn cause schedule delay and cost overruns in the execution of CRAF Project. The study also gathered recommendations from the key stakeholders of the project i.e., project directors, client, consultants, contractors, subcontractors, vendors, etc. for avoiding such conflicts in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to examine the effect of advisers’ salience on peace of mind via fear of negative evaluation as mediator between them. This paper expands the utilization of attachment research in organizational environments by offering attachment-based explanations for subjects that have not yet been investigated in the current body of literature. For this study, 205 bank employees from Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, and Peshawar were randomly selected. The data collection process employed the survey method. Structural equation modelling technique was used for hypotheses testing. Results of present study suggested that adviser’s salience undermines fear of negative evaluation which consequently results in peace of mind. Advisers’ salience a crucial construct. Thus, this study recommends the further exploration of the construct with other organizational outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To look into the experience of undergraduate medical and health sciences students regarding perceptions of online formative assessments. Study Design: Online cross-sectional survey. Place and Duration of Study: Riphah International University, Islamabad Pakistan, from Aug to Dec 2020. Methodology: Three hundred fifty-one pre-clinical and clinical students of disciplines including MBBS, BDS, and Pharm-D participated in the study. Data was collected through a convenient sampling technique. An online questionnaire containing 22 closed-ended questions with a three-point Likert scale on five themes related to online formative assessments and one openended question was used. Results: 86 (24.5%) students agreed that online formative assessments improved their learning. The motivation for learning was increased in 120 (34.2%) students. 214 (61%) students felt that online formative assessments were stressful, and the majority were well aware of the use of technology except for connectivity and login issues highlighted by the students. Regarding the question paper, the majority were comfortable with the construct of online formatives. 158 (45%) students were not satisfied with the allotted time to complete the formative assessments. 163 (46.4%) students were satisfied with the feedback provided, yet 258 (73.5%) students recommended formal feedback provided on the same day to improve their learning by knowing their deficiencies. Conclusion: The study results support the contention that well-designed online formative assessments have considerable untapped potential to assist learning by motivating students. Their problems and challenges need to be addressed to improve the online assessments that help in the learning of undergraduate students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the distractor efficiency of the multiple-choice questions and find out the structural flaws in the items that negatively impact the distractor efficiency. Study Design: Retrospective Observational study. Setting: Department of Pathology, Rawal Institute of Health Sciences (RIHS) SZAMBU, Islamabad. Period: April 2021 to June 2021. Material & Methods: This study was conducted at Rawal College of Medicine, RIHS Islamabad. The data was based on the item- analysis report from a sendup exam MCQ paper (2020) of 3rd year MBBS class. Distractor efficiency of total of 140 MCQs was analyzed. Distractor efficiency was categorized as low in MCQ with 3-4 non-functional distractors, medium with 1-2 nonfunctional distractors and high if there are no non-functional distractors. These MCQs were investigated with reference to item writing guidelines proposed by Haladyna et al. The flaws identified were grouped as, within option flaws, alignment flaws between options and stem/ lead-in and other flaws. Results: Out of 140 MCQs, distractor efficiency was high in 58 (41%), moderate in 75 (54%) and low in 7 (5%). The item writing flaws identified in moderate to low DE items were Alignment flaws between distractors and stem/ lead-in were linguistic cues 8(10%), logic cues 10 (12%) and irrelevant distractors 5(6%). Item flaws within the distractors were non homogenous length 2 (2.4%), non-homogenous content 5(6%) and distractors with true and false statements 3(4%). Flaws that were categorized in other than distractors were low cognitive level items 13 (16%) and un-necessarily complicated stems were 8(10 %). Conclusion: This analysis found out distractor efficiency of multiple-choice items was moderate to high. The major flaws that negatively impact distractor efficiency include the distractors with low cognitive level, unnecessary complicated stems, logic cues, linguistic cues, irrelevant distractors and distractors with non-homogenous length and content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the upgradation of power supply systems for the improved performance of a small spherical tokamak (MT-I) with an aspect ratio of 1.67 in operation at the Pakistan Tokamak Plasma Research Institute (PTPRI), Islamabad. Three mutually independent power supplies are designed to generate current pulses of desired shape and magnitude in central solenoid (CS), toroidal field (TF) and vertical field (VF) coil systems. The main parts of a power supply are capacitor banks as energy storage devices, ignitrons and thyristors as fast switches for controlled power switching. A double capacitor bank topology with enhanced second capacitor bank voltage is found to be suitable for CS to improve the plasma startup conditions. Simulations are performed in MATLAB Simulink for confirmation of the designed power supply system. The Rogowski coil and current transformers are employed to measure plasma current and the coil’s current waveforms during the experiment in the presence of hydrogen as working gas. An ocean spectrometer and a photron high-speed camera (SA-8) are used for optical measurements and fast plasma imaging. An improvement in startup conditions is observed, enhancing the plasma current duration and light emission intensity recorded in the high-speed camera masked with a Hα filter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents details about the archaeological investigations carried out at Rewat Fort by the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Islamabad during 2020. It was revealed after excavations that the history of Fort belongs prior to 16th century CE, when this area was under the control of Ghakkhars who were local rulers who controlled the region as they have friendly terms with Mughals. The discovered material from the different parts of the monumental complex provides concrete evidences that it remained under the occupations during the different phases of Muslim Medieval period. The present paper covers only the details of archaeological investigations carried out inside the Mausoleum and in the living cells on eastern side of the fortification wall of the Fort. A Catalogue of the objects discovered through the course of archaeological excavations is appended at the end of this paper (Annex-A). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is focused on the regional variation of rainfall (RF) in Pakistan using wavelet transformation. The RF variation in five regions of Pakistan, namely, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Islamabad are investigated. The highest variability was observed from 1961 to 2015 in a monthly data set for each region. The results reveal that the main variation is observed in the middle phase of each RF signal and some in the recovery phase (initial and end) using Daubechies (db 2) wavelet. In addition, the study reveals that the maximum RF variability occurred in 1–4-year periodicity using the Morlet wavelet. This caused moisture and led to more RF received in cities. Karchi, Peshawar, and Quetta show a decrease in RF as compared to Lahore and Islamabad. We also estimated the role of significant ENSO periodicity for 8–16 years in increasing RF observed post-1970 and pre-1970, and after 2000, showing neutral or decreasing RF. Finally, based on these results, Islamabad and Lahore are the wettest cities observed as compared to Karachi, Peshawer and Quetta, which represent the drier cities with low RF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic food has gained much importance due to consumers' rising environmental and health concerns. Purchase intention of organic food has been explored widely, but the repurchase intention of organic food has gained little attention among researchers. So, it has become important to explore repurchase intention among generation Z; a generation considered more educated and aware of rising environmental concerns. Generation Z is more tech-savvy and brand conscious, so its impact on repurchase intention through consumer satisfaction has been explored. The data in this paper was collected from 400 respondents through a structured questionnaire in Islamabad, Pakistan. We used the PLS-SEM approach for data analysis and results; we found that social media influence and brand purchase impact brand awareness and positively impact brand awareness on consumer satisfaction. Moreover, it is also found that consumer satisfaction positively impacts the repurchase intention of organic food. Our study found that Generation Z has a strong social media influence, so marketers' managers must consider and address the issues when consumers consider social media for their concerns and suggestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pan-Islamism had resonated strongly with Muslim political leaders of the Indian sub-continent, including those inspired by Jamāl al-Dīn al-Afghānī, credited with coining the term. These political leaders included prominent members of the All-India Muslim League, who were at the forefront of the Indian Muslims' struggle for a separate homeland that led to the creation of Pakistan in 1947. It is therefore no surprise that Islam and pan-Islamism became key features of the new state of Pakistan; however, domestic and geopolitical realities demanded a different approach to addressing the country's key national interests, i.e., security through economic development. This article analyzes Pakistan's policy on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to understand how far Islamabad has advanced its national interests through the OIC. Based on the interviews of elites and key opinionmakers in Islamabad, this paper argues that pan-Islamist ideals in Pakistan's foreign policy were confronted by reality soon after Pakistan's creation. The geopolitical realities of India have kept security concerns paramount and all-consuming. Consequently, pan-Islamism has been pragmatically used by Pakistan, especially within the OIC, for not just ideological reasons but also for material and diplomatic gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the perceptions and attitudes of married couples which prevent them from using modern contraceptive for purpose of family planning, based on semi-structured interviews with 16 married couples from rural Pakistan. This study, with married couples, not using any modern contraceptives, discussed issues of spousal communication and religious norms using qualitative methods. Despite near universal knowledge of modern contraceptives among married Pakistani women, the use continues to be low, with high unmet need. Understanding the couple context about reproductive decision making, pregnancy and family planning intentions is imperative to helping individuals fulfil their reproductive desires. Married couples may have varying intentions and desires about family size; a lack of alignment between partners may lead to unintended pregnancies and affect uptake and use of contraception. This study specifically explored the factors which prevent married couples from using LARCs for family planning, despite their availability, at affordable prices in the study area of rural Islamabad, Pakistan. Findings show differences between concordant and discordant couples regarding desired family size, contraceptive communication and influence of religious beliefs. Understanding the role that male partners play in family planning and use of contraceptives is important in preventing unintended pregnancies and improving service delivery programmes. This study also helped identify the challenges married couples, particularly men have in understanding family planning and contraceptive use. The results also show that while men's participation in family planning decision making is limited, there is also a lack of programs and interventions for Pakistani men. The study findings can support development of appropriate strategies and implementation plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare Informatics is a phenomenon being talked about from the early 21st century in the era in which we are living. With evolution of new computing technologies huge amount of data in healthcare is produced opening several research areas. Managing the massiveness of this data is required while extracting knowledge for decision making is the main concern of today. For this task researchers are doing explorations in big data analytics, deep learning (advanced form of machine learning known as deep neural nets), predictive analytics and various other algorithms to bring innovation in healthcare. Through all these innovations happening it is not wrong to establish that disease prediction with anticipation of its cure is no longer unrealistic. First, Dengue Fever (DF) and then Covid-19 likewise are new outbreak in infectious lethal diseases and diagnosing at all stages is crucial to decrease mortality rate. In case of Diabetes, clinicians and experts are finding challenging the timely diagnosis and analyzing the chances of developing underlying diseases. In this paper, Louvain Mani-Hierarchical Fold Learning healthcare analytics, a hybrid deep learning technique is proposed for medical diagnostics and is tested and validated using real-time dataset of 104 instances of patients with dengue fever made available by Holy Family Hospital, Pakistan and 810 instances found for infectious diseases including prognosis of; Covid-19, SARS, ARDS, Pneumocystis, Streptococcus, Chlamydophila, Klebsiella, Legionella, Lipoid, etc. on GitHub. Louvain Mani-Hierarchical Fold Learning healthcare analytics showed maximum 0.952 correlations between two clusters with Spearman when applied on 240 instances extracted from comorbidities diagnostic data model derived from 15696 endocrine records of multiple visits of 100 patients identified by a unique ID. Accuracy for induced rules is evaluated by Laplace (Fig. 8) as 0.727, 0.701 and 0.203 for 41, 18 and 24 rules, respectively. Endocrine diagnostic data is made available by Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan. Our results show that in future this algorithm may be tested for diagnostics on healthcare big data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objectives of the study were to determine the frequency of plastic bag usage among secondary school students of Islamabad and to assess their knowledge about plastic bag-associated pollution, its disposal and legislation. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from December 2020 to December 2021 in high schools in Islamabad. A sample size of 377 was calculated through Raosoftware comprising 53.6% male and 46.4% female students. Ethical approval was taken with the number ERC/ID/47. A consecutive non-probability sampling technique was used. Inclusion criteria were students of the 8th to 10th class and those who gave consent and filled out the questionnaire. A properly structured questionnaire was used. SPSS version 25 was used for data analysis. Frequencies and percentages were calculated. A chi-square test of significance was applied for categorical variables. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: About 97.6 % of the participants considered plastic as a contributory factor to environmental pollution and 67.6% used plastic bags as carrying materials. Awareness about alternatives like clothed bags was observed in about 85.9% of students. Regarding legislation, half of the study population opined that the community is responsible for banning plastic bags while the other half suggested that it's the responsibility of the Government. Significant p-value was observed between gender (0.036), age (0.000), education (0.000), knowledge about plastic hazards (0.01), health hazards (0.029) and usage of plastic bags. Conclusion: The usage of plastic bags was high among the students. Although they were well aware of the hazardous effects of plastic bags, most of them were routinely using plastic bags for daily activities. Different factors that were responsible for the higher usage of plastic bags included a lack of alternatives to plastic bags, easy availability, low cost and lightweight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Providing comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) in schools is a work in progress in many countries throughout the world. In some countries, the journey is just beginning; in others, investments in this field have been made for many years. It is and has been difficult in Pakistan to implement and promote reproductive health, women’s empowerment, and CSE. In Pakistan, previous implementation efforts revealed the critical role of community influencers in propagating misleading information about the initiatives, inciting organized community resistance, and provoking backlash. This paper looked at several aspects of community resistance, as well as approaches for overcoming the resistance for increasing community engagement in the implementation of CSE in Islamabad, Pakistan. To analyze community perceptions of CSE implementation in Islamabad, the community readiness assessment (CRA) questionnaire was adapted. Questions and prompts for discussion included leadership, current initiatives, community knowledge, resource availability, community support, and implementation strategies. A total of 35 in-depth interviews were conducted. Data was analyzed and interpreted using qualitative content analysis to explore community perspectives that contribute to resistance around CSE, as well as implementation options. Using inter-code relationship data, network analysis was conducted to provide a graphical representation of the analyzed qualitative data. The study reveals community resistance to CSE being implemented in schools. Misconceptions, a lack of awareness, a lack of priority, and the lack of dedicated resources are just a few of the primary implementation challenges to consider when implementing CSE in practice. Network analysis identified, based on modularity class, five distinct clusters of highly connected nodes/codes: non-governmental organizations (NGOs), misconceptions, resources and policy, strategies and community support, and personal social and health education (PSHE) and current efforts. In conservative environments and when confronted with resistance, innovative marketing and rebranding are critical for priority setting and community engagement, especially when developing curriculum and implementing CSE. Some of the suggested strategies for implementation include community sensitization through strategic awareness campaigns, involving already established infrastructure and NGOs, endorsement by all major stakeholders, particularly decision-makers, and the use of creative digital platforms for better dissemination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Menstrual hygiene remains clouded by misconceptions, posing challenges for adolescent girls. This study aims to identify myths surrounding menstrual hygiene among young girls in Islamabad and recognize the challenges they face in maintaining proper menstrual hygiene. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in three government schools in Islamabad, involving adolescent girls aged 13-18 years in grades 8-12 over a six-month period. Simple random sampling was used to enroll 600 participants, and data were collected using a self-structured, pre-tested questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25. Results: Of the 600 participants, 47% were in the age group of 13-15 years, and 53% were in the age group of 16-18 years. Mothers were the primary source of information for 85.8% of the girls. Common myths included 69% of girls avoiding baths based on advice from elders and 58.2% avoiding washing their groin during menstruation. Challenges reported by adolescent girls included 38.8% finding menstrual products unaffordable, 56.6% lacking sanitary pads at school, and 54.8% feeling embarrassed about asking for menstrual products. Additionally, 56.5% of girls were hesitant to discuss genital issues due to social taboos. Conclusion: This study highlights prevalent myths and challenges undermining menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls. Debunking these myths and providing necessary facilities are essential to enhance menstrual health and overall quality of life for adolescent girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of unsupervised clustering methods is well established in the statistics and machine learning literature. Many sophisticated unsupervised classification techniques have been made available to deal with a growing number of datasets. Due to its simplicity and efficiency in clustering a large dataset, the k-means clustering algorithm is still popular and widely used in the machine learning community. However, as with other clustering methods, it requires one to choose the balanced number of clusters in advance. This paper's primary emphasis is to develop a novel method for finding the optimum number of clusters, k, using a data-driven approach. Taking into account the cluster symmetry property, the k-means algorithm is applied multiple times to a range of k values within which the balanced optimum k value is expected. This is based on the uniqueness and symmetrical nature among the centroid values for the clusters produced, and we chose the final k value as the one for which symmetry is observed. We evaluated the proposed algorithm's performance on different simulated datasets with controlled parameters and also on real datasets taken from the UCI machine learning repository. We also evaluated the performance of the proposed method with the aim of remote sensing, such as in deforestation and urbanization, using satellite images of the Islamabad region in Pakistan, taken from the Sentinel-2B satellite of the United States Geological Survey. From the experimental results and real data analysis, it is concluded that the proposed algorithm has better accuracy and minimum root mean square error than the existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify the barriers halting the usage of sustainable modes of transportation in a university campus. Design/methodology/approach: Two large-scale universities, namely, Quaid-i-Azam University and the National University of Sciences and Technology, in Islamabad have been taken as case studies with a sample population of 421. The questionnaire data, comprising 30 different barriers, were analysed by principal component analysis and mean value method. Findings: The findings indicate that safety and infrastructural factors are the most influential ones affecting sustainable mobility within the campus. The provision of user-friendly and safe infrastructure and more frequent shuttle buses are recommended to promote the culture of sustainable transportation. Research limitations/implications: Inclusion of other large-scale universities of the country might give more generalized results. The sustainability of other areas associating with transportation can also be evaluated to explore other unfamiliar dimensions. Practical implications: The outcome of this research expects to highlight important policy recommendations for the promotion of sustainable mobility inside the campus and also serves as a guiding principle for campus developers and policymakers for planning new campuses in other parts of the country. Originality/value: This research can be considered as a starting point for achieving sustainability in the universities of Pakistan. The same research methodology can be opted in other campuses with the possibility of the addition of other related factors with different statistical analysis techniques as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a general class of estimators is proposed for estimating the finite population mean for sensitive variable, in the presence of measurement error and non-response in simple random sampling. Expressions for bias and mean square error up to first order of approximation, are derived. Impact of measurement errors is examined using real data sets, including the survey conducted at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. Simulated data sets are also used to observe the performance of the proposed estimators in comparison to some other estimators. We obtain the empirical bias and MSE values for the proposed and the competing estimators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the interest and use of WhatsApp technology among the library users of National Defence University Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire in google forms was created shared with the students of five departments of National Defence University Pakistan via email. The data were tabulated and analyzed using SPSS 22 for this paper. Findings This study revealed that WhatsApp is a robust and state of the art technology that could be embedded with digital library services to approach the library's patrons. This technology will help the library users getting quality services. Some technical and human resource factors could affect the delivery of services and hence need to be addressed. Therefore, it is recommended that library management should take necessary action to Embedded WhatsApp with Digital library services to ensure efficient and effective service delivery. Practical implications The WhatsApp is one of the most prominet technologies in social media applications that is deployed by many organizations including libraries. This technologies help the patrons at campus and remote places around the clock. Consequently, it will increase the quality of library services with greater satisfaction among users. Originality/value This study focuses on WhatsApp technology in the academic environment of National Defence University, Pakistan. This study is the first attempt of the researcher to highlight the critical issue. This study will be helpful for the library users of National Defence University and the entire academic setup in Islamabad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Vaccinations work with different mechanisms to offer protection against disease; however, process of immunity building can cause symptoms. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the immediate side effects of COVID-19 vaccination in the Pakistani Population. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at Foundation University College of Dentistry, Islamabad from February to April 2021. 0.5 mL per dose of the Covid-19 vaccine was administered to the candidates. These 205 candidates receiving vaccination were then interviewed investigating the adverse effects of the vaccine. Post-vaccination side effects were compared among categorical groups using the Chi-Square test, whereas post-vaccination side effects were compared with age using independent samples T-test. A p-value of =0.05 was statistically significant. Results: Among post-vaccination side effects, fever was reported by 69 participants, while 56 of 205 reported soreness, redness, and swelling at the injection site. It was reported by 42/205 participants to have felt chills and rigor, whereas gastrointestinal disturbance and flu-like symptoms were reported in 55/205 and 28/205 participants, respectively. Younger participants were more likely to develop gastrointestinal disturbance and flu-like symptoms following vaccination as compared to older participants. Conclusion: Malaise, headache, and fever were observed to be the most common side effects of the vaccine, moreover there was a linear relationship between manifestations of adverse effects and history of comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global energy scarcity and exceptional increase in energy consumption pushed energy optimization in the ambit of inevitable tasks. Meanwhile, the ambience of urban life is reliant on energy availability. Energy crisis of the 1970s gave rise to the energy conservation principles but the idea of regulating domestic electricity demand through socio economic and urban form elements gained popularity in the early 2000s. Pakistan has 39% urban population while urbanization rate in Pakistan is 2.81% which means cities are expanding faster and will claim more energy in future. The country is facing an electricity shortage hence beside production, optimum regulation of electricity demand is imperative. This research investigates the socioeconomic features and urban form elements with respect to their effects on domestic electricity demand in the context of Islamabad, Pakistan. Four residential areas of Islamabad are selected as the case study. Income level, household size, house ownership is taken as socio economic characteristics. Street pattern, land cover, house size, no of storey, basement, tree plantation, open to sky area are taken as elements of urban form. Electricity billing data is collected from the electric supply company, IESCO and a questionnaire survey is conducted in four residential areas of case study. Satellite imagery is obtained through Google earth and plans are downloaded from the official website of CDA. A total of 200 households are surveyed. The data is coded and analyzed in SPSS, therefore, multivariate analysis techniques including correlation and regression analysis are employed. Moreover, electricity consumption is largely dependent on the micro elements of urban form including open to sky area, tree plantation, basement and house size. The paper intends to highlight major trends of electricity consumption. The key findings of this study show that two of the socio-economic features including income and household size significantly affect electricity consumption. This research concludes that significant reduction in electricity demand is possible through socio economic and urban form changes. It is recommended to ensure basement provision in the buildings, maximize open area, promote tree plantation, incorporate natural ventilation and minimize household size for reduction in electricity consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. The objective of this paper is to examine online brand relationships, and the con-nection between satisfaction, trust, and loyalty on the online level. The website is considered to be an extension of the parent brand. It also seeks to explore the effects of offline experiences on online level experiences. Methodology employed included a survey through distributing close-ended questionnaires individually to people of Rawalpindi. The sample size for this study was 200. Responses of questionnaires were analyzed through SPSS statistics by perform-ing Regression and Correlation analysis. The results confirm the results of previous studies, indicating that satisfaction and trust at the site level is a determining factor in the retention of online businesses. However, they also show that brand-level experiences can vary depending on online satisfaction, trust and loyalty, depending on the relationship between the consumer and the brand. Interestingly, in this case, the duration of the user 's history and the registration of the website have a negative impact on online trust. This article combines the literature on the satisfaction and reputation of online brand loyalty. The findings of the study are based on large-scale surveys that provide researchers and practitioners with valuable insights into how the brand experience is related to clients' attitudes and commitments to health. 'Inter-net. The context of the study, the magazine publishing industry, has drawn less attention from researchers, although several publishers have expanded their brands online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. The objective of this paper is to examine online brand relationships, and the connection between satisfaction, trust, and loyalty on the online level. The website is considered to be an extension of the parent brand. It also seeks to explore the effects of offline experiences on online level experiences. Methodology employed included a survey through distributing close-ended questionnaires individually to people of Rawalpindi. The sample size for this study was 200. Responses of questionnaires were analyzed through SPSS statistics by performing Regression and Correlation analysis. The results confirm the results of previous studies, indicating that satisfaction and trust at the site level is a determining factor in the retention of online businesses. However, they also show that brand-level experiences can vary depending on online satisfaction, trust and loyalty, depending on the relationship between the consumer and the brand. Interestingly, in this case, the duration of the user 's history and the registration of the website have a negative impact on online trust. This article combines the literature on the satisfaction and reputation of online brand loyalty. The findings of the study are based on large-scale surveys that provide researchers and practitioners with valuable insights into how the brand experience is related to clients' attitudes and commitments to health. 'Internet. The context of the study, the magazine publishing industry, has drawn less attention from researchers, although several publishers have expanded their brands online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an investigation of monsoon-generated infrasound events recorded in Islamabad, Pakistan. The majority of these events originate from a specific azimuth band, pointing towards the Himalaya mountain range in the Indian subcontinent. Although the monsoon phenomenon is well-known to develop over the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian sea and enters Pakistan along the foothills of Himalayas and south-eastern areas of Sindh, Pakistan, the associated infrasound signals have a distinct frequency signature that differs from mountain-associated waves (MAW) and microbaroms. While MAW have a frequency of 0.015–0.1 Hz and microbaroms are found in the frequency band 0.13–0.35 Hz, the monsoon-associated signal is mostly observed in the frequency band 0.6–1.1 Hz. This research highlights the potential of studying monsoon-generated infrasound events as an unexplored area of research in the study of the atmosphere and an important weather phenomenon. The paper also reports a strong correlation between these events and rainfall precipitation, which could potentially benefit early weather warning systems, especially in the context of climate change. The MATLAB-based analysis tool, MatSeis, is used for the detection of infrasound events, and the data collected from a four-element seismic acoustic array with Chaparral Physics 50A sensors in Islamabad are analyzed from June to September in the years 2021 to 2022. Overall, this study highlights the significance of monitoring and analyzing monsoon-generated infrasound events in the region. • First time monsoon-generated infrasound events recorded at Islamabad, Pakistan. • Different from mountain-associated waves and microbaroms. • These signals are mostly observed in the frequency band 0.35–3.5 Hz. • These infrasonic signals have a strong correlation with rain precipitation. • Which may be useful for early weather warning systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An energy transition is a prerequisite and considered of paramount significance to meet the goal of climate and energy security sustainability. This transition is hardly conceivable without acknowledging the massive worldwide potential of renewable energy. Power outage in Pakistan that is caused primarily by insufficient and expensive power generation, line losses, and ineffective planning has escalated Pakistan's energy crisis. Almost every single sector of national economy has been adversely affected because of this excessive power outage. Recent floods in Pakistan, one of the outcomes of climate change, have necessitated incorporation of clean energy fuels to ensure climate sustainability. Keeping the magnanimity of the crisis in consideration, Islamabad has adopted some remedial measures to overcome this energy crisis but the problem still persists and requires pragmatic policies. The under-utilized renewable potential and power generation by expensive imported fossil fuels has led to excessive increase in cost of energy generation and climate deterioration. However, it is imperative for the government to adopt appropriate and workable solutions to address the energy crisis adequately. This is a qualitative study that employs content analysis technique to explore the dynamics of Pakistan's energy security and climate sustainability in a substantive manner. This paper is aimed at exploring the inherent potential of Pakistan in renewable energy (RE) not only to mitigate Pakistan's energy crisis but also to ensure sustainability in climate and energy security. Moreover, this study presents critical evaluation of the appropriate sites of wind and solar power plants in Pakistan. Last but not the least, it proposes short and long term remedial measures to mitigate if not to overcome this energy crisis entirely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The peak plasma ionospheric frequency (f o F2) from ionosonde stations located at Islamabad and Sonmiani is analyzed. • The 30 days running median technique to detect the abnormality in f o F2 over the epicenter of impending earthquake. • The major reason of these seismo-ionospheric anomalies is the distance between the ionosonde station and epicenter. • The evidence supports that these seismo-ionospheric precursors are probably due to the lithospheric-ionospheric coupling. The rapid advancement in ground and space based ionospheric measurements provide an opportunity to work on different earthquake precursors for lithosphere-ionosphere coupling hypothesis. In this paper, the peak plasma ionospheric frequency (f o F2) for 90 days before/after the main shock of September 24, 2019 (M5.6) earthquake in Pakistan are studied for earthquake precursors from ionosonde stations located at Islamabad and Sonmiani. We implement the 30 days running median technique to detect the abnormality in f o F2 over the epicenter of impending earthquake. A comprehensive analysis of these anomalies on two stations is performed in order to extract the maximum of these abnormalities in their respective regions. The deviation in hourly data in Sonmiani station shows significant variation within 10–20 days before the main shock, as most of the values within 5–10 days' window are within the confidence limits. On the other hand, positive and negative deviations in the analysis of Islamabad station may be revealed as a possible signature of seismo-ionospheric anomalies. The major reason of these seismo-ionospheric anomalies is the distance between the ionosonde station and epicenter, where Islamabad station is close to the epicenter as compared to Sonmiani. It is noteworthy that both negative and positive deviations are observed before the M5.6 earthquake; however, the intensity of positive anomalies is more than negative anomalies. Moreover, severe positive deviation occurs within 10–20 days before the earthquake at the Sonmiani station. Also, there is no geomagnetic storm within 10 days before the earthquake which opposes the existence of seismo-ionospheric anomalies. The evidence supports that these seismo-ionospheric precursors are probably due to the lithospheric-ionospheric coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The animals held captive in zoos often face health and well-being issues. Parasitic infections can lead to health problems in wildlife animals by affecting their gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify and evaluate the population of the various Gastrointestinal (GIT) parasites of wild animals enclosed in different zoological gardens in Pakistan. The fresh fecal samples (n = 960) of 20 captive wildlife animals were collected from Marghzar Zoo, Islamabad (n = 340), Ayub National Park, Rawalpindi (n = 221), Lohi Bher Wildlife Park, Rawalpindi (n = 296), and Bansra Galli Wildlife Park, Rawalpindi (n = 103). The samples were obtained from wildlife mammals, including urial (n = 95), blue bull (n = 106), chinkara gazelle (n = 77), zebra (n = 77), hog deer (n = 75), spotted deer (n = 43), blackbuck (n = 58), barking deer (n = 52), red deer (n = 104), yak (n = 44), grey goral (n = 40), lion (n = 37), mouflon sheep (n = 46), red fox (n = 12), bear (n = 37), grey wolf (n = 12), jackal (n = 12), vervet monkey (n = 12), rhesus monkey (n = 12), and langoor (n = 12). Various methods, such as direct smear examination, standard sedimentation, and floatation techniques were applied to detect and identify the endoparasites in the fecal sample. The detailed routine parasitological analysis identified approximately 52 endoparasites in the fecal samples, including Haemonchus contortus, Eimeria bovis, Ostertagia curcumcincta, Strongyloides papillosus, Strogylus equinus, Oxyuris equi, Chabertia ovina, Protostrongylus, and Trichostrongylus vitrines. The obtained results indicated that Lohi Bher Wildlife Park (46.35%) had a higher prevalence of GIT parasites, compared to Marghzar Zoo (33.23%), Bansra Galli Wildlife Park (33.02%), and Ayub National Park (19.45%). The study reports mild to moderate parasitic infection in captive wild animals and that could affect the survivability of the animals in captivity. The findings of the study can be used to formulate a proper health protocol and sanitation management in captive wild animals to control parasitic infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, financial literacy has attracted much attention in the field of household finance as individuals have become more concerned about their financial well-being. Besides, financial products have become more complex over the years. Therefore, financial literacy has become crucial for financial decision making and has received the attention of policymakers, researchers and regulatory bodies. This study investigates the cross-sectional heterogeneity on the relationship between financial literacy and stock market participation in an emerging economy, particularly Pakistan. This study uses the survey data of the 300 individuals residing in Islamabad. Exploratory factor analysis is used to assess convergent and discriminant validity of the survey data. Results are estimated using logistic regression. Results of this study show that individuals with higher levels of financial literacy tend to participate more in the stock market. This study also finds the support for gender gap on the financial literacy and participation in the stock market. Further, it is observed that age, qualification and income are positively associated with stock market participation. In the end, the conclusion of the study is given along with significant policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating educational climate (EC) is imperative for ensuring postgraduate trainees' competencies and quality in residency training programs. This study assessed the EC experiences of pathology postgraduate residents (PGRs) during their postgraduate training in pathology residency programs—a cross-sectional study design assigned EC scores in the pathology residency program at a prestigious institution in Islamabad, which were measured using the Dutch Residency Educational Climate Test (D-RECT) questionnaire. Scores from the D-RECT were employed to conduct descriptive statistics and comparison of means across groups to evaluate EC scores by years of training and compared to assess where the differences were located. Among FCPS-II pathology residents, most of whom were females (94.4%), the mean age was 28.11±2.91 years. A mean positive score was observed among all pathology residents (M≥3.6) for all D-RECT subscales except for the feedback subscale: the average score for feedback was below the average mean score of 3.6 (M = 3.19). A significant difference p = 0.016 was observed in EC scores across different groups through the Analysis of Variances (ANOVA) test. The most significant difference was between less than two and greater than two groups p = 0.027, followed by the difference between equal to two groups and greater than two groups p = 0.052. Overall, positive scores for EC in the pathology residency program were observed. Thus, targeted interventions are needed to increase feedback scores and address observed differences in EC scores by years of training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Epilepsy is a prevalent neurological disorder that affects a significant number of individuals globally. This condition is associated with a high occurrence of psychiatric comorbidities, which can significantly affect the quality of life of individuals affected. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between antiseizure therapies and the likelihood of psychiatric comorbidities in individuals with epilepsy. Methodology: Data for this study was gathered from the Neurology referral center in Islamabad, Pakistan. A standardized questionnaire was utilized to gather data from 120 individuals diagnosed with epilepsy. The survey consisted of inquiries regarding the management of seizures, the utilization of anti-seizure medications, and the presence of psychiatric comorbidities. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: The findings indicated that individuals who were using multiple antiseizure medications had a notably higher likelihood of having psychiatric comorbidities in comparison to those who were on mono therapy (p = 0.010). suggests that patients with unsuccessful seizure control are more probable to have psychiatric comorbidities as compared to those with good seizure control (p = 0.029). Conclusion: To conclude poor seizure control and poly therapy are associated with increased risk of psychiatric comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric grid is vulnerable to power imbalance and inertia is the grid's response to overcome such disturbance. Augmentation of power electronic converter based renewable energy technologies like Photovoltaic Generators (PVG) and batteries in utility grid significantly reduces inertia. Inertia degradation is indicated by sharp Rate of Change of Frequency (ROCOF) events due to any grid component failure or imbalance. Fixed gain feedback Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) control is insufficient to deal with varying ROCOF events. This work proposes Sliding Mode (SM) robust droop control scheme assisted by Artificial Neural Network (ANN) algorithm for an islanded PVG integrated microgrid. Droop response is governed by swing equation that uses PVG Maximum Power Point (MPP) forecasted by ANN. ANN forecast is compared with optimized Gaussian process regression algorithm based on mean squared error and speed of training as key performance indicator. The algorithms are trained and validated based on climate dataset of Islamabad, Pakistan. SM control performance is compared with various PID gain settings and qualified as the most suitable against variable source, load and ROCOF scenarios. Finally, significance of accurate MPP forecast for droop control is established by comparing the ANN and deterministic forecaster assisted droop response in a microgrid case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to focus on the dual outcomes and consequences of gritty leadership, including how it encourages followers to engage proactively and, as a result, succeed in their careers. On the other hand, the way it causes job stress in employees affects the overall work-life balance. Design/methodology/approach: The snowball sampling method was used to gather data to test the dual outcomes of gritty leadership. Mid-level project employees in Rawalpindi and Islamabad provided the data. Findings: The findings of the study indicate that gritty leadership comes with both advantages and disadvantages and adds to the development of individuals. Positive spillover effects (career success) may be created by grit leaders, and vice versa (poor work-life balance). On the bright side, gritty leadership promotes career success favorably through a proactive personality. Contrarily, gritty leadership causes job stress, which has a detrimental impact on work-life balance. Originality/value: Thus, this study offers the explanatory mechanism by which the advantages and disadvantages of gritty leadership are manifested. The study is unique because it examines the results of gritty leadership and gives practitioners a realistic notion of the direction they should go. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the effect of technology on the upgradation of slums in Islamabad, along with the moderating role of upstream influences between them. With this concern, the researcher used a quantitative research design, and to accumulate the data, a closed-ended survey questionnaire was chosen. The sample size considered in this research was 293 participants belonging to the urban planning sector of Islamabad. To evaluate the data and hypothesized model, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used. It was also revealed that upward influences moderated the association between technology and slum upgradation significantly, particularly regarding governance, religion, and gender roles. However, this research is limited to Islamabad only; therefore, the implications of this study cannot be generalized. Consequently, it has been recommended that upward influences based on crime and mafia, along with governance, should be controlled to upgrade Islamabad-based slums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chatbots on academic self-efficacy and self-regulation among university students. To test the moderating effect of self-regulation on the association between AI Chatbots and academic self-efficacy. In addition, the research aligns with highlighted social debates surrounding ethical quandaries surrounding AI adoption in education. Using purposive sampling technique data was collected from universities students (N = 350) based in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Along with demographic information, data was collected on the measures of the Human-Computer Trust Scale, Academic Self-Efficacy Scale, and Short-Form Self-Regulation Questionnaire to assess study variables. Results showed that AI Chatbots and Self-Regulation positively predict academic self-efficacy. AI Chatbots help in growing educational technologies and provide the education sector and policymakers for enhancing the level of education by adding tools for performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to investigate the predictive role of family functioning on relapse tendency while also exploring the mediating role of drug abstinence self-efficacy between study variables. The research utilized the cognitive social learning theory and relapse prevention model to explore these influences. The research used a correlational research design; and the data were obtained from 300 men with substance use from drug-rehabilitation centres in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Findings showed that poor family functioning and low drug abstinence self-efficacy significantly increased relapse tendencies among individuals with substance use disorder. Findings further revealed that drug abstinence self-efficacy mediates the relationship between poor family functioning and relapse tendency. Based on the present findings, it is recommended to integrate family-based therapy and self-efficacy training into substance use treatment programs to effectively reduce relapse rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study reviews existing scholarship on identity politics. It explores the preservation of cultural and national identity within Pakistani cultural institutions, examining how we collectively identify with or differentiate ourselves from others. Another important dimension is the state's function as a regulator in forming the identity for the population, especially in divisions based on ethnicity, culture, or religion. The study used a qualitative approach to analyze various resources, including books, internet sources, and interviewed nine senior staff members from cultural institutions and universities in Islamabad, as well as provincial officials in Sindh, to gain valuable insights into Pakistan's cultural preservation efforts. Study's findings, Pakistan has several cultural institutions tasked with preserving its cultural and national identity. However, these institutions frequently serve the cultural agenda, blurring the line between their respective objectives. This study suggests understanding the issues surrounding cultural and national identity in Pakistan, highlighting recent works on identity, becoming familiar with scholarship on these topics, and developing models for policymakers to incorporate these issues into provincial and national policy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The goal of this research was to learn how psychological contracts influence workers' innovative work behavior in Pakistan's information technology industry. Design/methodology/approach: Employees from several software companies in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, participated in the study. Standardized scales were used to obtain data from 234 workers via questionnaires. Findings: The study's findings showed a favorable correlation between innovative work behavior and the presence of psychological contracts (both transactional and relational). Originality/value: There remained uncertainty and little study was done on the mediation function of work engagement in the relationship between Psychological Contract and Innovative Work Behavior despite decades of research on the subject. Thus, work engagement was employed as a mediator in this research, and the findings demonstrated that work engagement mediates the relationship between innovative work behavior and the psychological contract in a positive and meaningful way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Photovoltaics (PVs) into the electric power distribution system is rising worldwide due to the environmental concerns and the rapid depletion of fossil fuels. However, the simultaneous integration of EVs and PVs in the power system poses challenges of uncertain power penetration, charging, and dynamic loading conditions, which requires a suitable control design and scheduling optimization to keep the modified electric system stable. This paper proposes a solar-based grid-tied charging station (SGTCS) that optimizes EV charging by enabling the scheduling technique resulting in maximum utilization of PV power. The proposed model also identifies and considers seasonal variation effects of power generation and EV charging connectivity. The SGTCS is implemented using HOMER Grid, and a case study of a practical locality in Islamabad was investigated; the conducted detailed analysis comprises the annual cost estimation, energy costs, EV scheduling, main grid power usage reduction, and the impact of environmental changes. Examining the integration of small and big EVs in the grid-tied solar-integrated charging system, a brief scheduling strategy of 250 sessions per day is analyzed. The resultant techno-economic implications are presented, depicting the proposed study's relevance and applicability. • This paper presents an optimal scheduling and techno-economic analysis of EVs. • This is based on solar-based grid-tied charging station. • A case study of a practical locality in Islamabad is investigated. • The model considers seasonal variation effects of power generation and EV charging. • The results of proposed model are compared with other models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]