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Dicrocoelium lancet flukes cause significant production loss in ruminant livestock. Although co-infection with multiple Dicrocoelium species within a host is common, techniques for studying the composition of these complex parasite communities are lacking. The pathogenicity, epidemiology, and therapeutic susceptibility of different helminth species vary, and little is known about the interactions that take place between co-infecting species and their hosts. Here, we describe the first applicationof metabarcoding deep amplicon sequencing method to studythe Dicrocoelium species in sheep and goats. First, rDNA ITS-2 sequences of four Dicrocoelium species (Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Dicrocoelium hospes, Dicrocoelium orientalis, and Dicrocoelium chinensis) were extracted from the NCBI public database. Phylogenetic analysis revealed separate clades of Dicrocoelium species; hence, molecular differentiation between each species is possible in co-infections. Second, 202 flukes belonging to seventeen host populations (morphologically verified as belonging to the Dicrocoelium genus) were evaluated to determine the deep amplicon sequencing read threshold of an individual fluke for each of the four species. The accuracy of the method in proportional quantification of samples collected from single hosts was further assessed. Overall, 198 (98.01%) flukes were confirmed as D. dendriticum and 1.98% produced no reads. The comparison of genetic distances between rDNA ITS-2 revealed 86% to 98% identity between the Dicrocoelium species. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a distinct clustering of species, apart from D. orientalis and D. chinensis, which sit very close to each other in a single large clade whereas D. hospes and D. dendriticum are separated into their own clade. In conclusion each sample was identified as D. dendriticum based on the proportion of MiSeq reads and validated the presence of this group of parasites in the Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces of Pakistan. The metabarcoding deep amplicon sequencing technology and bioinformatics pathway have several potential applications, including species interactions during co-infections, identifying the host and geographical distribution of Dicrocoelium in livestock, drug therapy response evaluation and understanding of the emergence and spread of drug resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH) holds a large number and historically valuable specimens of insects that were collected from various parts of the country before and after the independence of the Indo-Pak subcontinent (1917-2024). In this study, we examined 605 specimens of dung beetles of subfamily Scarabaeinae Latreille, 1802, and identified 26 species belonging to 12 genera and seven tribes. The tribes consist of Coprini Kolbe, 1805 (nine species), Onthophagini Lacordaire, 1856 (six species), Onitini Laporte, 1840 (six species), Gymnopleurini Lacordaire, 1856 (two species), Oniticellini d´Orbigny, 1916 (one species), Scarabaeini Latreille, 1802 (one species), and Sisyphini Mulsant, 1842 (one species). This study adds one species to the scarabid fauna of Pakistan, Onthophagus (Palaeonthophagus) conspersus Reitter, 1893. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmosphere pollution is a burning issue in Pakistan and therefore getting substantial attention at both the national and international levels. It is not only confined to the cities, but the small towns in Pakistan also suffer from this problem. However, very little information exists regarding public awareness and willingness to pay (WTP) for atmosphere pollution, particularly among the inhabitants of towns. This study aims to investigate the role of public awareness and WTP in the elimination of atmosphere pollution via a well-structured interview schedule. The interval regression model is used to analyze the data. The analysis shows that radio, television, and newspapers are the prime sources of information regarding atmosphere pollution in the study area. The attitude of the respondents concerning the severity of atmosphere pollution, only 46.0 percent declares pollution in towns as 'moderately severe.' Regarding the sources of pollution, 48 percent of the respondents attribute vehicular emissions besides industrial emissions to atmosphere pollution. The environment-friendly measures that respondents favored include the use of public transportation (37.7%) and solar equipment (27.7%) followed by the carbon tax and personal car sharing. There exists a significant difference between the WTP for self-protective measures before and after the dissemination of information. The analysis further demonstrates that the WTP to support the control and prevention of air pollution after the dissemination of information is significantly higher than before the dissemination of such information. However, respondents tend to pay more for self-protective measures than to support the control and prevention measures. Alternatively, this may indicate that inhabitants of the study area want the government to play a dominant role in controlling atmosphere pollution and preventive actions. Among the various socio-economic factors, the level of education and income significantly increase the WTP to eliminate atmosphere pollution. This study is important to better understand public awareness and WTP to prevent atmosphere pollution in Pakistan. It could also contribute to activating positive public participation to control atmosphere pollution and its management to move toward sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, the education system has seen significant technical and architectural transformations after the COVID-19 epidemic. Additionally, it affects the innovative work performance and energy levels of teachers. This research examines the impact of idiosyncratic deals on the innovative work performance of university instructors in Pakistan. The attitude towards performing well serves as a mediator between innovative work performance and I-deals. In addition, cognitive dissonance has also served as a mediator between innovative work performance and ideals. Data for the current research were gathered from a sample of 392 university professors for further analysis and interpretation. The findings suggest that idiosyncratic deals substantially impact instructors' innovative work performance. Cognitive dissonance has a largely detrimental impact on idiosyncratic deals and the effectiveness of teachers' innovative work performance. Furthermore, a positive attitude towards performing well has a partial impact on teachers' idiosyncratic and innovative work performance. Cognitive theory advocates for examining methods to enhance teachers' positive energy throughout the execution of their duties. This research provides valuable insights for academic institutions and policy leaders in Pakistan's education sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of exchange rates play a pivotal role in shaping the economic landscape of nations, influencing key indicators such as trade balances, foreign direct investment, and overall economic performance. This research delves into the specific case of Pakistan, aiming to comprehensively analyze the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on the country's economic framework. The objective of this study is to focus on evaluating the relationship between exchange rate fluctuations and crucial economic indicators, including GDP growth, inflation rates, FDI, CPI, and trade balances. Additionally, we examine the influence of currency volatility on export and import competitiveness, shedding light on the implications for Pakistan's trade dynamics. Methodologically, this study employs a rigorous analysis of historical exchange rate movements in Pakistan, identifying trends and pivotal events that have shaped the country's currency valuations by using correlation, regression and others. Lastly, this study provides insightful recommendations for policymakers to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities in shaping Pakistan's economic policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infectious disease caused by airborne transmission of aerosolized droplets of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB is one of the top ten causes of death and the leading cause from a single infectious agent, causing an estimated 1.2 million deaths annually. Even with successful treatment patients with TB mostly suffer from long-term pulmonary complications. Objective: To determine the Frequency of Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) in post TB patients. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was carried out at Pulmonology Ward, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad over six months from February 4th, 2022 to August 3rd, 2022. A total of 108 patients were included in the study using consecutive sampling technique. The PH patients included those patients who had mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPm) ≥ 25 mmHg at rest estimated by echocardiography. Both male and female patients with age between 16 to 80 years having past history of TB were included. Results: Mean age of Post TB patients was 52.1(±7.2) years. Among Post TB patients 46.3% were males and 53.7% were female patients. The frequency of PH in post TB patients was 44.4% (p<0.03). The Post TB PH difference in different age groups was significant (p=0.03) but difference in both genders was not significant in patients (p=0.221). Conclusion: Pulmonary Hypertension is found in a significant number of Post TB patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the significance of understanding police perspectives on community policing as a means of addressing insecurity, particularly within the context of localised and asymmetrical conflicts. It highlights the pivotal role of the police in shaping community security and the substantial impact they can have (positive or negative) in fragile environments. The study contends that the localised nature of the community policing effectively addresses security and development issues and empowering citizens. Qualitative interviews were conducted with senior police in Islamabad, to assess the implementation and potential impacts of community policing in Pakistan's Federal Capital Territory. The findings reveal how the historical foundations of police structures and operations – which date back to the colonial period – have led to the promotion of fear, mistrust and manipulation under successive regimes. Despite these challenges, the findings are promising highlighting enhanced human security through context-specific community policing. Finally, the paper argues that the movement towards community-oriented policing marks a departure from the control of elites within state systems, and encourages values such as local ownership, social cohesion, mutual engagement, accountability and agency. These developments have profound implications for global security and justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Fluoroquinolones (FQs) is a distinct class of antibiotics which are prescribed and used quite frequently worldwide, despite the box warnings (BW) issued by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Literature has shown in spite of BWs related to FQs there is minimal impact on health care professionals (HCPs) prescribing habits, potentially attributing towards limited and insufficient awareness. In Pakistan, FQs are mostly prescribed antibiotics for microbial treatments, therefore the purpose of this study was to determine the level of knowledge about the safety profile, use, and BW of FQs among HCPs working in Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken among the HCPs of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan from October 2022 to December 2022. A validated questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of HCPs regarding FQs, its safety profile and BW. A random convenient sample technique was used while recruiting HCPs in this study. As the HCPs comprised physicians, dentists, pharmacist and nurses, all were approached in person and the study objective was fully elaborated and explained to them. The statistic test like: one-way ANOVA, independent-t test, multivariate logistic regression were used keeping the p-value < 0.05 as statistically significant. Results: A total of n = 250 HCPs were approached, of which n = 186 HCPs completed the questionnaire with a response rate of 74.4%. FQs prescribing pattern was only assessed among the prescribers, i.e., physicians and dentists (39/186). The mean knowledge score for indications was 5.29 ± 3.05, while for the adverse effects was 7.70 ± 2.61. The highest score for knowledge for indications and adverse effect score was achieved by physicians followed by dentist. The mean knowledge score for the BW was 3.46 ± 2.93 and among the HCPs for the BW of FQs, 20.4% of the HCPs had appropriate knowledge score (score ≥ 50%). The knowledge score was significantly higher in males (p = 0.039), dentists (p = 0.001), HCPs having master/specialization level of education (p = 0.003), HCPs working in government sector hospitals (p = 0.010) and secondary care hospitals (p = 0.001) while the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that HCPs working in primary care hospital (OR: 6.2) and secondary care hospital (OR: 20.3) were associated with the tendency to achieve 50% or above knowledge score. Conclusion: Findings of this study reveals the unsatisfactory knowledge of HCPs regarding the safety profile, use, and BW of FQs putting patients at heightened risks of FQs associated AEs. Therefore, it is crucial to implement a national antimicrobial stewardship program, seminars and lectures aimed at continuously updating the knowledge of HCPs, regardless of their specialties, and effectively restrict the misuse of antimicrobial and disseminate FDA BWs in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide occurrence records of the members of dung beetle's tribe Onitini from the northern parts of Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and Islamabad Capital Territory. This study is based on extensive field sampling from different ecological biomes including Alpine Meadows, the Sub-Alpine Zone, Mountain Temperate Forest, and Subtropical Deciduous Forest. As a result, we report six species under two genera of tribe Onitini: Onitis falcatus, O. lama, O. philemon, O. subopacus, O. virens, and Cheironitis arrowi. The genus Cheironitis is recorded for the first time from northern parts of Pakistan. We provide photographs of the dorsal and ventral habitus, diagnosis, distribution maps and identification keys to known genera and species in the tribe Onitini from Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to explore patients' experiences of palliative chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), how patients adapt to their new and challenging life after chemotherapy, their beliefs, and their quality of life. Patients and Methods: The study used an exploratory descriptive qualitative approach that was designed to explore the experiences and side effects of NSCLC patients on chemotherapy in Pakistan. The study was designed to obtain a deeper understanding of 22 NSCLC patients' experiences, using a face-to-face approach and interviews were conducted. Patients who have completed chemotherapy agreed to participate in semi-structured interviews. Results: The data were arranged into five themes: hospital facilities and environment, patient's beliefs in alternative treatments, presenting a positive/negative face, life is for living, and health insurance coverage. The major complaints related to bad experiences of chemotherapy-induced side effects, but these patients still managed to complete the full course of their respective chemotherapy. Additionally, the current study revealed the real experience of patients with NSCLC which had been less studied. The patient's experience was summarized into four themes and several subthemes. Conclusion: This study aid healthcare providers when deciding on treatment options that will improve shared decision-making between clinicians and treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of green human resource management (GHRM) and green innovation (GI) on sustainable business performance (SBP) with the mediation of environmental performance (EP). For this quantitative study, data were gathered from managers of manufacturing firms in Punjab, Pakistan. A purposive sampling technique was used to collect primary data. Three hundred forty-one (341) respondents were analyzed using SPSS and smartPLS. The measurement and structural models were carried out with smartPLS, while descriptive statistics and correlation were analyzed with SPSS. Results indicate a positive and significant impact of GHRM and GI on EP and SBP. EP has a direct and positive effect on SBP. Moreover, EP mediates between GHRM and SBP, GI and SBP. It contributes to the existing body of knowledge by illuminating the connections among GHRM, GI, EP, and SBP in terms of natural RBV theory. It also demonstrates how GHRM, GI, and EP are essential within manufacturing companies to achieve SBP. To accomplish SBP, manufacturing business management must analyze their environmental performance using GHRM and GI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species in the genus Acarospora (Acarosporaceae, lichenized ascomycetes), from Darel Valley, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan, is described and illustrated here under the name Acarospora pakistanica. It is characterized by thicker epihymenium 30–60 µm, taller hymenium 100–150 µm, and larger ascospores 5–7 × 1–3 μm. A detailed description of this taxon is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the frequency of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among hospitalized children with acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRI) and associated risk factors. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jul 2019 to Aug 2020. Methodology: After approval from the Ethical Review Board, 126 children were included in the study. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from children. The direct immunofluorescence method was utilized to detect intracellular viral antigens of the respiratory syncytial virus. In addition, the presence of symptoms and history for identification of the presence or absence of risk factors was recorded. Results: 57(45.2%) patients were found to be respiratory syncytial virus positive, and 69(54.8%) were respiratory syncytial virus negative. Significant differences were found in symptoms between RSV-positive and negative children (p=0.001). Conclusion: Respiratory syncytial virus was among the leading causes of children hospitalized with acute lower respiratory tract infections, with fever and recurrent wheezing as the most common symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is the world's tenth most common cause of death, and it continues to be a serious global health problem, generating considerable morbidity and mortality. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report 2020, there were an estimated 10 million new tuberculosis cases and 1.4 million tuberculosis deaths globally in 2019. TB incidence and mortality rates have decreased since the WHO end TB Strategy was adopted in 2014; nonetheless, the rate of decline has been far slower than predicted, highlighting the need for better, more focused implementation of this strategy. Objectives: To determine the comparative sensitivity of smear microscopy (SM) for acid fast bacilli (AFB) versus Gene Xpert MTB/RIF assay on endobronchial washings of the Sputum Smear Negative/Sputum scarce patients with suspected Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) keeping culture as gold standard. Methodology: This Cross-sectional validational study was carried out in the Department of Pulmonology, Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad, Pakistan from 28th March to 28th September 2022. All patients of any gender having age 20 to 75 years with TB who were sputum smear negative or had scare sputum were included. Patients who were already diagnosed as PTB and those who were already on anti tuberculous treatment were excluded. Results: Mean age of the patients was 47.02±14.65 years ranging from 20 to 75 years with 44(50.6%) males and 43(49.4%) females. In comparative sensitivity of Gene Xpert with respect to culture as gold standard the sensitivity of Gene Xpert was 93.24% while its specificity was 84.62% with positive predicted value (PPV) of 97.18%, negative predicted value (NPV) of 68.75% and accuracy of 91.95%. In comparative sensitivity of AFB SM with respect to culture as gold standard, the sensitivity of SM was 74.32% and specificity was 53.85%, PPV was 90.16%, NPV was 26.92% and the accuracy was 71.26%. Conclusion: Gene Xpert is more sensitive than SM to detect mycobacterium TB and rifampicin resistance. Gene Xpert can be utilized for earlier detection of rifampicin resistant TB cases on the endobronchial washings while waiting for detailed culture results in suspected PTB cases having either sputum negative or sputum scarce disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health and nutritional status of the women of reproductive age (WRA) is expected to be influenced with women literacy status alongside other sociodemographic indicators. However, data are scant to validate if literate young women have lower incidence of anemia prevalence. Nexus to the problem stated, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,541 female resident university students (FRUS) aged 17–35 years from a public sector university located in Southern Punjab, Pakistan. Hemoglobin (Hb) led screening for anemia was performed followed by nutritional assessment and structured questionnaire-based sociodemographic and dietary assessment. The data generated were analyzed using independent t-test, Chi-square, and response surface regression models. Response rate for the prevalence of anemia in FRUS was 38 percent with mean Hb levels 10.5 g/dL. With a significant effect (p =.001) of participants' weight on anemia prevalence, 22.45 percent of the sample population was recorded as underweight. Sociodemographic and dietary parameters analyzed suggested low daily food expenditure (x2 = 20.59; p =.000) and reduced intake of meat (x2 = 12.14; p =.01), beans & pulses (x2 = 18.56; p =.001) to significantly influence rate of anemia prevalence in FRUS. The study concludes high prevalence rate of anemia among FRUS to strongly relate with students' low monthly stipend, little daily food expenditure, and substandard dietary quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bronchiectasis is commonly linked to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and can go undetected due to limited access to diagnostic tools like HRCT scans. This chronic lung condition involves the irreversible dilation of airways, leading to mucus buildup and recurrent infections. Early diagnosis and management are crucial for improving patient outcomes. Objectives: Objective of the present study was to identify the prevalence and pattern of bronchiectasis in individuals with COPD and the contributing variables. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the department of medicine MMC Mardan from January 2020 to January 2021, including 60 (COPD) patients with diagnoses. A high-resolution CT scan was used to diagnose bronchiectasis. A systematic proforma was used to document all relevant characteristics connected to the severity of (COPD) or bronchiectasis. Results: In (COPD) patients, 16 (55%) had bronchiectasis. Of all (COPD) patients, 42% had a cylindrical type, with higher bilateral and lower lobe involvement. The Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) Dyspnoea Scale score, the diagnosis, and the number of pack years of smoking were shown to be strongly linked to the development of bronchiectasis in individuals with (COPD). Conclusion: In summary, this study identified bronchiectasis as a relatively common coexisting condition in COPD patients, affecting 51% of the studied population, with a specific cylindrical pattern and bilateral lower lobe involvement on chest imaging. Intriguingly, there were no significant differences in terms of mean smoking pack years and years from the onset of symptoms between patients with and without bronchiectasis, suggesting that these factors may not be strongly associated with its development in the context of COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 21st century, the global environment faces significant threats due to climate change, ranging from floods and droughts to heat waves and other extreme weather events. In recent decades, Pakistan has experienced severe flooding and prolonged droughts, compounding challenges related to livelihoods, public health, and population displacement. The availability of precise and robust climate change information is paramount in addressing and mitigating the adverse impacts on a region's environment and its communities. The present study intends to assess the effects of climate change on the development of homogenous climate regions (HCRs) and then developed ensemble climate projections under the shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) using CMIP6 data. In the first step, HCRs were developed by integrating the cluster analysis approach and L-moment technique, identifying five distinct climatic regions. HCRs were developed using both observed data and ensemble baseline data which allowed us to thoroughly evaluate the ensemble data's performance. Subsequently, we extended our analysis to the future period (2015–2044) using ensemble climate data according to SSP2–4.5 and SSP5–8.5. Our findings indicate that, under both SSPs, certain stations exhibit discordant climatic trends in the future due to climate change. Ensemble climate projections were developed over each region for both SSPs for the duration of 2015–2044. A significant increase of 2–3.20 °C has been noted in the summer season in zone 3 and zone 5 (a region that has one of the world's largest glaciers) in maximum as well as minimum temperatures. Temperature has upward trend in the other region as well while precipitation has a mixed trend in all regions. The insights gleaned from this study hold significance and offer valuable guidance for decision-makers involved in water management, agricultural planning, and disaster management. [Display omitted] • The study domain is distributed into five homogeneous climate regions. • Climate change impacts were noted on the construction of homogeneous climate regions. • At most of the regions, temperature increasing in all months in the future. • Maximum increase was noted in region 3 under both SSP2–4.5 and SSP5–8.5. • Precipitation has mixed trend, however, extreme precipitation is increasing in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research analyzes the impacts of intellectual capital (IC) and the balancing power of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on innovation growth (IG) in Pakistan's SME sector. A quantitative approach on smart PLS has been applied through the SEM model, backed by a survey to gather primary data from 256 participants of Pakistan's SME sector. A significant effect of human capital on Pakistani firms' IG was identified. In contrast, the effect of structural capital was determined to be insignificant over the IG of Pakistani firms. On the other hand, the customer capital's effect was also significant over Pakistani firms' innovation growth. Little moderation of EO between human capital and IG has been determined. The moderations of "EO between human capital and innovation growth" and "EO between structural capital and innovation growth" were insignificant. However, the moderation of EO between customer capital and IG was significant. The scope of this study is limited to firms in Pakistan and can be extended to firms in other regions, which can provide broad findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Khanpur Valley, located in the sub-Himalayan Mountains of Pakistan, is a rich repository of the diverse flora of immense medicinal importance. During the survey, 202 plants were recorded. Similarly, the maximum species were herbs (141), followed by trees (31), while the minimum species were shrubs (30). Moreover, out of the total 202 plant species, 71 (34%) belonged to 42 families that were identified as medicinally important. The findings further established that the most significant number of illnesses cured with medicinal plants were associated with the digestive system (36.05%), followed by respiratory disorders (14.83%), blood purification (14.42%), reproductive diseases (9.7%), skin problems (6.64%), urinary diseases (5.62%), nutritional & tonic supplement (5.21), brains & nerves (4.73%) and bones and joints (2.8%). Finally, the study found that the maximum utilization of medicinal plants was in the form of powder (39.14%), followed by decoction (21.22%), tea (8.41%), paste (7.13%), fresh or raw form (7.1%), juice (6.04%), cooked (4.31%), cream (3.84%) and tincture (2.81%). Based on the result, the local people preferred the herbs and leaves of woody plants for use in various recipes and to cure diseases most preferably associated with the digestive system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to evaluate the intelligence quotient (IQ) in students attending a madrassa, an Islamic religious school, in urban (n=60, boys=38, girls=33) and rural (n=60, boys=48, girls=12) areas, in Sindh province, Pakistan, aged 9-11-years-old, with the same education system and criteria but different socio-economic levels. The fluoride ion (F) concentration in the drinking water was tested in both the rural and urban areas. For the urban madrassas, the mean F level in the drinking water was 2.04 mg/L and the mean urinary F level in the children was 5.99±3.57 mg/L while for the rural madrassas, the F level in the drinking water was 1.07 mg/L and the urinary F level was 3.53±1.09 mg/L. The 38 urban boys had a significantly higher (p<0.05) mean IQ, 99.95±15.50, than the 48 rural boys, 92.30±14.97, despite having a higher drinking water fluoride level, 2.04 mg/L, compared to that of the rural students of 1.07 mg/L. However, several confounding factors were not controlled for including the level of parental education, socio-economic status, and the levels of arsenic, lead, and iodine. No significant differences were found in the distribution of the IQ scores for the total number of students (both boys and girls) between the urban and rural areas, or between the mean IQs for the total boys and total girls, urban and rural girls, urban boys and girls, and rural boys and girls. The detrimental effect of F exposure in utero and early childhood reported in other studies may not have been seen in the urban children of the present study, compared to the rural children, because of confounding factors, such as socioeconomic status, sample size, and the ecological rather than individual study design.s [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a time-lagged field survey, the current study examined the psycho-economic effects of job insecurity among hospitality workers during the recent pandemic of COVID-19. The study also examined social support as a buffering agent against the harmful effects of job insecurity. Data were collected from employees (N = 272) working in numerous hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies across Pakistan. Hierarchical moderated regression analysis was used to test the study's hypotheses. The results suggested that job insecurity was negatively related to self-esteem and positively related to economic deprivation. In addition, social support significantly moderated the effects of job insecurity on mental health, self-esteem, economic self-efficacy and life satisfaction such that the negative effects of job insecurity were stronger when social support was low. The results for economic deprivation, however, were contrary to the expectations, whereby job insecurity had a strong positive effect on economic deprivation in case of high social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loquat [Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.] is an important fruit crop in Pakistan; however, a constant decline in its production is noted due biotic and abiotic stresses, particularly disease infestation. Fungal pathogens are the major disease-causing agents; therefore, their identification is necessary for devising management options. This study explored Taxila, Wah-Cantt, Tret, Chatar, Murree, Kalar-Kahar, Choa-Saidan-Shah and Khan-Pur districts in the Punjab and Khyber Paktoon Khawa (KPK) provinces of Pakistan to explore the diversity of fungal pathogens associated with loquat. The samples were collected from these districts and their microscopic characterizations were accomplished for reliable identification. Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Aspergilus flavis, Botrytis cinerea, Chaetomium globosum, Pestalotiopsis mangiferae and Phomopsis sp. were the fungal pathogens infesting loquat in the study area. The isolates of A. alternata and C. lunata were isolated from leaf spots and fruit rot, while the isolates of L. theobromae were associated with twig dieback. The remaining pathogens were allied with fruit rot. The nucleotide evidence of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions (ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2) were computed from all the pathogens and submitted in the database of National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). For multigene analysis, beta-tubulin (BT) gene and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) regions were explored for A. alternata and C. lunata isolates, respectively. The virulence scales of leaf spots, fruit rot, and twig dieback diseases of loquat were developed for the first time through this study. It is the first comprehensive study with morpho-molecular identification, and newly developed virulence scales of the fungal pathogens associated with loquat, which improves the understanding of these destructive diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horse purslane (Trianthema portulacstrum L.) is an important weed of soybean crop capable of causing significant yield reduction. Therefore, this study assessed the impact of horse purslane and other weeds' infestation on the productivity of soybean. Ten treatments, i.e., weed-free throughout the growing season, horse purslane-free till 20, 40 and 60 days after emergence (DAE), all weeds-free till 20, 40 and 60 DAE, weedy-check (excluding horse purslane), weedy-check (horse purslane alone) and weedy-check (all weeds) were included in the study. Data relating to density and dry weight of recorded weed species, and yield and related traits of soybean were recorded. Overall, infestation percentage of horse purslane was 33.10 and 51%, whereas dry weight was 12 and 44 g m-2 during 1st and 2nd year, respectively. The highest dry weight of all weed species was recorded at 45 DAE in weedy-check all weeds treatment during both years. The lowest relative density and frequency of horse purslane were recorded in the treatment where it was controlled until 20 DAE during 2018 at 30 DAE, whereas the same treatment recoded the lowest density of horse purslane at 45 DAE during 2019. The relative frequency of horse purslane was non-significant for weedy-check horse purslane and weedy-check all weeds treatments during 2018, whereas former treatment had higher relative frequency of horse purslane in weedy-check all weeds than the later during 2019. Yield and related traits significantly differed among different treatments used in the study. The treatment all weeds controlled until 40 DAE recorded higher number of pods per plant, 1000-seed weight and seed yield during both years. The yield reduction in weedy-check treatments was; weedy-check all weeds > weedy-check all weeds except horse purslane > weedy-check horse purslane only. It is concluded that horse purslane was not the sole weed interfering soybean fields and weed flora consisted of false amaranth [Digera muricata (L.) Mart.] and purple nut sedge (Cyperus rotundus L.). Hence, if the soybean fields in northern irrigated plains of Pakistan are infested with horse purslane or heavily infested with horse purslane or other weeds, these should be controlled in initial 40 DAE to improve soybean productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the transfemoral and transradial access in term of safety and efficacy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions. Study Design: Observational Study. Place and Duration of Study: Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan to Nov 2019. Methodology: Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention fulfilling the criteria for both transradial and transfemoral accesses were included in the study. Clinical data were obtained from patient's record while procedural and outcome data were obtained by observing the procedure and patients. Results: Overall 584 patients were included. 461 patients were in radial group while 123 were in femoral group. Clinical and angiographic characteristics were similar between two groups of patients. Procedure failure was statistically similar between two groups; 1.6 vs. 4.3; p=0.16 for femoral and radial group respectively. Mean access time, procedural and fluoroscopy time was longer in radial group compared to femoral group; 2.7 ± 0.67 min vs. 11.0 ± 7.9, p=0.001, 68.0 ± 15.9 min vs. 76.1 ± 12.7 min, p=0.001, 24.7 ± 6.4 min vs. 28.8 ± 5.4 min, p=0.001 respectively. Mean amount of contrast used was higher in radial group compared to femoral group; 237.1 ± 4.7 ml vs. 248.4 ± 9.1ml, p=0.003. Access site complications were significantly higher in the femoral group as compared to radial group; 6(4.9) Vs 7(1.5), p=0.02. Non access site complications were similar between two groups; 2(1.6) vs. 11(2.4), p=0.61 for femoral and radial groups respectively. Conclusion: In patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention Transradial routeis associated with a reduced number of in comparison to Transfemoral route. It is also linked with lesser procedural related morbidity but with longer procedure and fluoroscopy time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study focuses on the impact of board room gender diversity on the Environmental Sustainability (ES) of firms. The study selects a sample from the banking sector in Pakistan from 2011 to 2018. Content analysis is used for the measurement of ES. Those Boards which has enough strong combination of gender diversity probably deliver additional monitoring and are also strict implementation of ethical behavior, thus decreasing the effects of misuse of shareholder investments that can be harmful to their profits. As for their social capabilities, women in the board room are likely to be able to involve with numerous stakeholders providing a way for presenting social responsiveness, which is established by the results. Our findings are robust to alternative estimation techniques including Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Panel Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE), and the Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) method. The outcomes support that a connection does exist among board Gender Diversity (GD) and ES. The outcomes suggest that firms having boards with more gender diversity are more environmentally responsible. The study offers new information on the part of female directors in encouraging ES and develops additional dimensions to the continuing debate in this area by selecting the banking sector. The study offers theoretical, methodological, and practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of our study is to investigate the impact of tax revenue and development spending on economic growth of Pakistan for estimation, annual time series data from 1972 to 2015 is used. Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach for co-integration is applied. The results show that development expenditures and tax revenue have significant and positive impact on economic growth. Based on the findings, the study recommends that government development expenditure and tax revenues should be increase, in order to stimulate activities in the economic sectors of Pakistan. Government should pay attention to enhance development expenditures for better growth as well as formulate the specific policies that attracts the investors. Pakistan should restructure its tax system like consistency in implementation, elimination of corruption in tax management, control on tax evasion and proper distribution of tax revenues for economic growth in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 1945, the US has been relishing the status of a superpower by following its interests through a no of means, including international order, global and regional security arrangements, and international organizations. Recently, emerging global powers have challenged the existing international order, whereas the US is on a declining trajectory. The US hegemonic obligations to use its preponderant power in global issues with the intent to cast events in its favour have brought an inevitable overstretch beyond its capacity. Furthermore. a visible shift in power centres, the backlash of political decisions, and economic recession are other factors that need to be studied. This paper, therefore, explores the highly debated and contested reasons for the US decline. While employing deductive reasoning through qualitative analysis, it evaluates the efficacy of existing international order, emerging multilateralism, and difficulties in obviating the attendant risks to US security and prosperity. Implications of a declining superpower and suggested course of action for Pakistan have also been discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined the effects of the two types of moral identity (i.e., internalization and symbolization) on ethical consumption behaviours and pro-environmental behaviours. The study also investigated the mediating role of pro-environmental self-identity in moral identity-outcomes relationships. A three-wave time-lagged field survey was used to collect data (N = 229) from customers in the capital city of Pakistan. The findings revealed that both internalization and symbolization were positively related to pro-environment behaviours. Pro-environmental self-identity fully mediated the relationship between internalization and ethical consumption behaviours and partially mediated the relationship between internalization and pro-environmental behaviours. Furthermore, pro-environmental self-identity did not mediate the relationship between symbolization and both outcomes. Finally, the study provides important implications for marketers and environmentalists. We recommend that special interventions should be made at institutional levels to develop moral and pro-environmental identities among individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The motivation for this research enquiry is to identify the role of the business age, size and risk for the choice of debt financing in the textile and apparel sector of Pakistan along with other controlled factors. The textile and apparel sector of Pakistan comprises 464 listed entities as the targeted population while the study randomly finalized 60 firms as the sample after carefully analyzing the required information from the financial statements during the annual revenue streams of 2013-2019. The predicted variable for this research enquiry is measured by short, long and total-debt ratios while the predictor variables include the business age, firm's scale and risk. In addition, the research includes tax shield, tangibility, liquidity, profitability, and growth as the controlling factors. The study estimated that the choice of total-debt ratio is strongly affected by business age, size and risk alongwith tax shield, tangibility, liquidity and profitability while the choice of short-term debt ratio mainly depends upon the firm's scale and age along with the tax shield. In addition, the choice of long-term debt ratio is strongly explained by the firm's scale and age along with the tax shield, liquidity and profitability. The estimated evidence provides management with the implications for the textile and apparel sector of Pakistan to consider as significant factors in deciding the debt financing choice of this sector. The estimated evidence of this research enquiry applies to the non-financial textile sector only and cannot be generalized to the financial sector. Future research may enhance the financing choice towards the inclusion of equity financing with the same set of variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With diminishing land availability and increasing population, food security and loss of agricultural biodiversity are two of the current common challenges faced by the global community. In this context, the Plant Breeders' Rights Act 2016 (PBRA 2016) may have far‐reaching consequences for Pakistan, an agricultural country where the livelihood of a majority of the population is linked with agriculture. This paper critically analyses the new legislation and seeks to answer the following research questions: To what extent the PBRA 2016 complies with Pakistan's obligations under Article 27(3)(b) of the TRIPS Agreement and to what extent has Pakistan availed itself of the flexibility or latitude offered under TRIPS? What are the salient features of the Act? What are the prospects and challenges for the seed industry in Pakistan? What are practical implications for farmers, especially small farmers, who find it difficult to access protected or certified varieties of seeds from the formal seed sector due to physical and financial constraints? To what extent the Act is able to reconcile Pakistan's conflicting obligations under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banking sector plays a significant role in the economic development of the country and the non-performing loans has remained an intractable challenge which is denounced everywhere as the scourge of the present times. The study uses the, Asset Quality, Return on Assets, Deposit to Total Asset, Cash to Total Asset, Size, Return on Equity, Capital Adequacy Ratio and Net interest margin as bank specific factors. The panel data since 2007 to 2019 has been collected from the annual reports of banks and State Bank of Pakistan database. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, fixed effect panel, least square regression and error correction mechanics test were applied to analyze the data. It was also concluded that Asset Quality, Deposit to Total Assets, Cash to Total Assets, Return on Equity, Capital Adequacy Ratio and Net Interest Margin have negative and significant effect on non-performing loans while the Size has insignificant and positive correlation with the non-performing loans. This study is therefore a narrative in pursuit of a normative vision for NPL free society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is about finding impact of leverage, dividend and family ownership concentration over value of firms under two conditions. Firstly, when there is growth opportunity what would be the influence of leverage, dividend and family ownerships concentration over value of a firm? Secondly, when there is no growth opportunity then what would be the possible outcomes? The study employs annual panel data of firms which are listed at Pakistan's stock exchange. Sector wise data over the period 2005 to 2016 has been used. The study has is carried out on non-financial firms. The first finding of this study reveals that, debt carries a positive influence over the value of a firm in both cases e.g. when there are growth opportunities and when there are no growth opportunities. The second finding about positive relationship between dividend and firm's value is uncertain when there are growth opportunities. While in case of no or few growth opportunities the relationship between paying dividend and firm's value is positive. The third finding of this study is about non-monotonous relationship between family ownership concentration and firm value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry husbandry is important for the economic health of Pakistan, but the Pakistani poultry industry is negatively impacted by infections from Escherichia coli. We performed Illumina whole genome sequencing on 92 E. coli isolates obtained from the livers of deceased chickens originating in five Pakistani geographical regions. Our analysis indicates that the isolates are predominantly from the B1 and A clade and harbor a diverse number of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes, with no linkage between phylogeny and antibiotic resistance gene presence but some association between phylogeny and virulence gene and SNP presence for the B1 and E phylogroups. The colistin resistance gene mcr-1 and the quinolone resistance gene qnrS1 were both found in 13/92 isolates. Alarmingly, 82/92 of the E. coli strains characterized in this study are multidrug resistant with 100% (92/92) resistance to lincomycin, 81.5% (75/92) to streptomycin, 79.3% (73/92) to ampicillin and 66.3% (61/92) to ciprofloxacin. These results provide a high-resolution analysis of poultry-associated E. coli isolates in an area with a high endemic burden of antibiotic resistance. Surveillance of antibiotic resistance in poultry associated E. coli isolates is an important pillar of the One Health concept to integrate analysis of potential pathogens in human, animal, and environmental niches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: Eating disorders have frequently been reported among young adults including university students. Detailed information on the prevalence and associated gender-specific determinants of eating disorders are lacking, particularly among students in the north western region of Pakistan. The current cross-sectional study was designed to fill this gap in the literature. Methods: Total of 672 students (female: 56%, age range: 18--26 years) were enrolled and data collected between October 2016 and December 2017. The 26 items Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26), Diet quality Index- International (DQI-I), 10 items Rosenberg's self-esteem scale (SES), Stunkard Figure Rating Scale, 19-items Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) were used. Body composition and anthropometry were determined using standardized tools. A cut-off of ≥20 EAT-26 score was used to assess the tendency towards eating disorders (EDT). Data was analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Results: Mean (SD) age of the respondents was 21.7±2 years. Total of 103 (15.3%) students showed EDT with no statistical difference between sexes. Students with EDT had a much lower diet quality than normal students (p<0.001). Risk factors for EDT, in female students included young age (<20 years), on-campus residency, discordant body image and poor sleep quality, while those for males were vigorous lifestyle, insufficient monthly allowance, poor sleep quality and peer pressure. Conclusions: A significant number of students showed a tendency towards an unhealthy eating attitude with some sex-specific risk factors. These students had poorer diet quality than normal students. Support to encourage healthy attitudes to eating and better diet quality could help to avert the development of clinical eating disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a diverse and unique sample of triads (N = 191 self, peer, and supervisor reports) from a field survey of two service sector organisations, this study examined the effects of perceived competence (self‐reported) and supervisor‐rated performance ratings on peer‐rated impression management. The study also tested the mediating role of performance in competence–impression management relationships and the moderating role of job satisfaction (self‐reported) in performance–impression management relationships using bootstrapping techniques. The study further examined the conditional indirect effects (i.e., moderated mediation) of perceived competence on impression management. The sample consisted of white collar employees from a government organisation and a leading cellular company in a developing country (i.e., Pakistan). Employees with low perceived competence were more likely to use impression management tactics than were those with high perceived competence. Similarly, poor performance ratings produced high impression management. Moreover, performance mediated the relationship between competence and impression management. The findings also suggest that perceived competence has a negative indirect effect on impression management for those with high levels of job satisfaction. Finally, impression management was highest when performance and satisfaction were low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to find the concentration of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) in feed, drinking water, and their residues in meat and internal organs in broilers at three different locations in Charsadda. For this purpose, a total of 48 representative water and feed samples and 240 meat and internal organs of broilers were collected. Significantly (P < 0.05) higher concentrations of Zn and Mn were found in feed samples. In water samples assessed for heavy metals, a significantly (P < 0.05) higher concentration of Pb was observed at Umerabad and Kula Dher as compared with Nisatta whereas a significantly (P < 0.05) higher concentration of Ni was recorded at Umerabad as compared with Nisatta and Kula Dher. Similarly, a significantly (P < 0.05) higher concentration of Mn in water was recorded at Kula Dher as compared with Nisatta and Umerabad. The concentration of Pb in water at all locations and the concentration of Ni at Umerabad were above the maximum permissible limits. A significantly (P < 0.05) higher concentration of Pb in the liver, breast, and thigh muscles and a significantly (P < 0.05) higher concentration of Mn in the liver, gizzard, breast, and thigh muscles of broilers were recorded at Kula Dher. A significantly (P < 0.05) higher mean concentration of Pb, Cd, Ni, Mn, and Zn was recorded in the liver as compared with the gizzard, breast, and thigh muscles. It was concluded from the present study that broiler farms near the roadside/canal and waste disposal site/wastewater drains cause accomulaiton of high concentrations of some heavy metals in meat and internal organs of broiler birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kirthar Fold Belt is part of the transpressive transfer zone in Pakistan linking the Makran accretionary wedge with the Himalaya orogeny. The region is deforming very obliquely, nearly parallel to the regional S–N plate motion vector, indicating strong strain partitioning. In the central Kirthar Fold Belt, folds trend roughly N–S and their structural control is poorly understood. In this study, we use newly acquired 2-D seismic data with pre-stack depth migration, published focal mechanisms, surface and subsurface geological data, and structural modelling with restoration and balancing to constrain the structural architecture and kinematics of the Kirthar Fold Belt. The central Kirthar Fold Belt is controlled by Pliocene to recent linked thick-skinned to thin-skinned deformation. The thick-skinned faults are most likely partially inverting rift-related normal faults. Focal mechanisms indicate dip-slip faulting on roughly N–S-trending faults with some dip angles exceeding 40 ∘ , which are considered too steep for newly initiated thrust faults. The hinterland of the study area is primarily dominated by strike-slip faulting. The inverting faults do not break straight through the thick sedimentary column of the post-rift and flexural foreland; rather, the inversion movements link with a series of detachment horizons in the sedimentary cover. Large-scale folding and layer-parallel shortening has been observed in the northern study area. In the southern study area progressive imbrication of the former footwall of the normal fault is inferred. Due to the presence of a thick incompetent upper unit (Eocene Ghazij shales) these imbricates develop as passive roof duplexes. In both sectors the youngest footwall shortcut links with a major detachment and the deformation propagates to the deformation front, forming a large fault-propagation fold. Shortening within the studied sections is calculated to be 18 %–20 %. The central Kirthar Fold Belt is a genuine example of a hybrid thick- and thin-skinned system in which the paleogeography controls the deformation. The locations and sizes of the former rift faults control the location and orientation of the major folds. The complex tectonostratigraphy (rift, post-rift, flexural foreland) and strong E–W gradients define the mechanical stratigraphy, which in turn controls the complex thin-skinned deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the impacts of proactiveness, openness to experience, and extraversion on innovative performance among engineers. The work also examines the mediating role of knowledge sharing. Using a person-situation interaction perspective, the study further explores the moderating role of perceived organizational support (POS) in personality-knowledge sharing relationships. Data collected from engineers (N = 183) across various public and private engineering firms in Pakistan reveal that knowledge sharing mediated the relationship of proactiveness and extraversion with innovative performance. In addition, highly proactive and extraverted engineers are more likely to share knowledge when the POS is high. Contrary to the expectations, engineers who highly exhibit openness to experience are less likely to share knowledge under high POS. These findings provide significant contributions to the theory and practice of engineering management by highlighting the essential link of personality traits with knowledge sharing and innovation among engineers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper highlights the contribution of the Lahore High Court (LHC) towards the development of principles of Islamic family law in Pakistan. To this end, we have conducted a comprehensive analysis of relevant case law relating to various aspects of Islamic family law including marriage, dower, dowry, maintenance of wife and children, triple talaq, khula and its compensation, legitimacy and paternity, guardianship and custody, and inheritance law. Our analysis shows that the judges of the LHC frequently refer to the injunctions of the Qur'an and Sunnah to: i) cultivate a distinct Islamic identity for Pakistani legal regime; and ii) to incorporate the right oriented approach informed by the principles of human rights in Pakistani legal consciousness. However, in this process, the LHC has to maneuver through the structural formalities of Pakistan's legal system shaped by procedures and precedents of Anglo-Muhammadan law which is an articulation of Islamic law by colonial judicial system. In order to circumvent the structural inhibitions, the LHC employs a progressive approach towards the Qur'an and Sunnah along with inculcation of right based approach for underprivileged and less advantageous segment of the society. Such an approach inventively aligns the colonial past, the classical Islamic family law, and the demands of post-colonial circumstances which is indeed a unique contribution of the LHC. This analysis demonstrates how a post-colonial judicial regime can cultivate a distinct legal identity without being disloyal to its past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although previous research has linked leadership, culture and work behaviors, scholars and practitioners lack an understanding of how servant leadership affects employees' work meaningfulness, diversity-valuing behavior and community citizenship behavior by fostering an ideology-based culture within the hospitality sector. This study addressed these gaps by conducting a multi-level time-lagged field study among full-time employees and their supervisors (310 employees nested in 70 supervisors) working in a large hotel chain in Pakistan. The study examined the direct and indirect effects of supervisory-level servant leadership on individual-level meaningfulness, individual-level community citizenship behavior, and group-level diversity-valuing behavior through group-level ideology-based culture. The findings revealed that supervisors' servant leadership style was positively related to ideology-based culture within each group. In addition, ideology-based culture was positively related to group's diversity-valuing behavior as well as each member's meaningfulness and community citizenship behavior. Finally, servant leadership had a positive indirect effect on all outcomes through ideology-based culture. • The study used a multi-level time-lagged field data collected from employees of a large hotel chain in Pakistan. • The study examined the effects of supervisory-level servant leadership on individual and group-level outcomes. • Servant leadership was positively related to ideology-based culture. • Ideology-based culture was positively related to meaningfulness, community citizenship and diversity-valuing behavior. • Servant leadership had a positive indirect effect on all outcomes through ideology-based culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the first report of infectious bursal disease in Pakistan in 1987, outbreaks have been common even in vaccinated flocks. Despite appropriate administration of vaccines, concerns arise if the circulating strains are different from the ones used in the vaccine. Here, we sequenced the hypervariable region (HVR) of the VP2 gene of circulating strains of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) originating from outbreaks (n = 4) in broiler flocks in Pakistan. Nucleotide sequencing followed by phylogeny and deduced amino acid sequence analysis showed the circulating strains to be very virulent (vv) and identified characteristic residues at position 222 (A), 242 (I), 256 (I), 294 (I) and 299 (S). In addition, a substitution at positions 221 (Q→H) was found to be exclusive to Pakistani strains in our analysis, although a larger dataset is required to confirm this finding. Compared to vaccine strains that are commonly used in Pakistan, substitution mutations were found at key amino acid positions in VP2 that may be responsible for potential changes in neutralization epitopes and vaccine failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Although there exists a huge pile of literature on the performance of banking sector, a gap exists in developing countries like Pakistan where only limited work has been previously done to evaluate the performance of banking sector. In fact, most of the previous studies are based on traditional ratio analysis. Other studies not only have applied modern techniques of frontier approach like data envelopment analysis (DEA) but also are limited to the measurement and comparison of efficiency scores of various groups of banks. The purpose of this study is to find out the determinant of variation in the performance of banks. Design/methodology/approach – This study computes various elements of performance, including efficiency and effectiveness, and finds out the factors of variation in each component of performance by using the Tobit regression. Findings – Overall performance of Islamic banks was influenced positively by age, capitalization, size, non-markup expenditure, minimum capital requirement and gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate, whereas profitability, concentration and inflation had a negative relationship. Research limitations/implications – Islamic financial institutions are in their infancy stage. With the passage of time, one can find the exact trend in the performance and efficiency of these institutions. Practical implications – This study guides the investors in the process of their decision-making. Social implications – Society can also take the advantage of the moral steps which are taken by these institutions. Originality/value – This is an original study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few decades, contamination of urban children's parks (UCPs) with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) has been attracting more and more interest; however, assessment of eco-environmental and child exposure risks particularly in developing countries remains limited. The current study investigated PTE (Cr, Ni, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) concentrations, potential sources, and their health risk assessment in UCP soils of 12 major cities in Pakistan. The results showed that the mean concentration of Ni exceeded the SEPA-permissible limit in all UCP sites, while other PTEs were found to be within acceptable limits. The soil properties such as pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, and soil particles size were determined in UCPs soils. The contamination factor and pollution load index results indicated low to moderate pollution levels (CF < 3) and (PLI<1) for all PTEs except Ni in some of the selected cities. Quantile–quantile (Q-Q) plotting determined the normal distribution line for all PTEs in the UCPs. Principal component analysis showed the mixed sources of contamination from industrial emissions, fossil fuel combustion, vehicular emissions, wastewater irrigation, as well as solid waste disposal and natural sources of soil parent materials in all park sites. ANOVA results showed that all the PTEs except Cd had moderate to higher contamination values than the reference site. The risk assessment study revealed that children had high exposure to the selected PTEs via all exposure pathways. The hazard index (HI) mean value (1.82E+00) of Ni for all exposure pathways was greater than 1, while total risk value of Cr (1.00E-03) had exceeded USEPA limit, indicating cancer risk. Consequently, the study of UCPs soils revealed PTEs contamination that could pose a potential health risk to the local population in the studied UCPs regions of Pakistan. Thus, the present study recommends that the influx of PTEs originating from natural and anthropogenic sources should be mitigated and government should implement strict enforcement of environmental regulations and proper management, as well as air quality monitoring guidelines for public health should be strictly adopted to reduce traffic- and industrial emission-related to PTEs in metropolitan areas. [Display omitted] • Nickel had the highest prevalent contamination in UCPs soils among PTEs. • Vehicular and industrial emissions are the main driving factors influencing PTEs. • Children were relatively more susceptible than the adults to PTEs exposure in all. • UCPs soils. • Monitoring strategies should be implemented to mitigate PTEs pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the association between vitamin D status and rsecurrent wheezing. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Paediatrics, Pak Emirates Military Hospital (PEMH), Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Aug 2019 to Aug 2020. Methodology: Sixty infants with recurrent wheezing and 60 healthy age-matched infants without acute or chronic illness were inducted into the study. 25 (OH) Vitamin D, immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and eosinophil counts were measured. In addition, data were analyzed to find the association of vitamin D levels with recurrent wheezing. Results: In the Control-Group, the mean 25 (OH) vitamin D levels were 25.90±7.57 ng/ml and in the Recurrent Attack- Group was 13.90±4.63 ng/ml (p= 0.02). The mean IgE levels of the Control-Group were 22.80±2.67 IU/ml, and the Recurrent Attack-Group was 149.20±30.60 IU/ml (p=0.001). Eosinophil count in Recurrent Attack-Group was 150.40±23.11 cells/uL and 338.95±33.50 cells/uL in Control-Group respectively (p= 0.08) Conclusion: There is a strong association between low vitamin D levels and recurrent wheezing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textile sector is back bone of Pakistan economy. It contributes 53 % to exports, employs 30 % of industrial labor force and has 9.5 % share in GDP. Pakistan is 4th largest producer and 3rd largest consumer of cotton world over. Fluctuation of raw material prices may result in crisis in industry, exports, foreign exchange reserves and GDP growth. It is therefore imperative to forecast the prices of raw material to help industry in reduction of cost and improvement in profitability. We estimated the factors causing variations in cotton prices of Pakistan. To determine the short run and long run relationship, annual data for the period 1960 to 2012 is used. Cotton Production and Consumption in Pakistan, China Imports of Cotton, World Cotton Consumption, Exchange Rate, Textile Exports of Pakistan, and New-York Cotton prices are taken as explanatory variables. Unit root test, Cointegration and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) ate used to forecast cotton prices. Cotton production showed inverse impact on cotton price in Pakistan whereas all the other factors including local cotton consumption, textile exports, Cotton imports of China, exchange rate and international cotton prices had significant and positive impact both in short run and long run. Government should adopt policies to control exchange rate in order so that fluctuations in cotton price are minimized and risk of crisis in textile industry is minimized. Production and consumption should be monitored to strengthen the prices. This is the first application of time series analyses for evaluating relationship of non-stationary time series for forecasting short term and long term impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has always been argued as to what constitutes good dental esthetics, as it can vary from person to person depending on personal experiences and social ambiance. Recurring esthetic dental proportion has been stated to be an essential tool for achieving esthetics and harmony in smile. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of recurring esthetic dental proportion in maxillary anterior teeth widths in a selected sample of Pakistani population. Two hundred dental students were included in the study, included 84 male subjects and 116 female subjects with the age range of 18 to 30 years. Photographs of the subjects were taken using a digital camera (Casio Exilim; EX-S5.Casio computer Corp, China. 10.1 megapixels with 100- mm macro lens and a point flash) and analyzed using Adobe Photoshop 7 software. The width of maxillary central incisors, lateral incisors and canines were found out using the measuring tool provided in the software. The Data were subjected to statistical analysis, (descriptive statistics and t-test, level of significance was set at P<0.05). The values of the recurring esthetic dental proportion (RED) were not constant in this study, and the farther the one moves distally from the midline the higher the values. The RED proportion theory can be applied to relate the successive widths of the maxillary anterior teeth if percentages are adjusted taking into consideration the ethnicity of the population, within the confines of this study Recurring esthetic dental proportion was not seen in the widths of natural maxillary anterior teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on social exchange theory, this study investigated the impact of workplace stressors on creativity and job burnout among engineers. Moreover, it also investigated the conditional role of Islamic work ethics in the above relationships. For testing the hypotheses, data from 161 engineers and their respective managers were collected using a time-lagged approach from various organizations in Pakistan. Further, a structural equation modelling technique was utilized for testing the proposed relationships. The findings suggested a positive impact of challenge and hindrance stressors on employees' burnout. Moreover, challenge and hindrance stressors were found to have a negative impact on employees' creativity. Finally, the results supported a conditional role of Islamic work ethics in the relationships of challenge stressors with creativity and job burnout. While existing literature has focused on the work-related outcomes of workplace stressors, this research has simultaneously incorporated the role of work and non-work factors. Finally, the integration of Islamic work ethics provided a novel perspective for understanding how employees' values and beliefs facilitate effectively managing their behavioural and attitudinal outcomes, particularly under stressful circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a diverse sample (N = 231 paired responses) of employees from various organizations in Pakistan, the authors tested for the main effects of perceived organizational politics and psychological capital on turnover intentions, job satisfaction, and supervisor-rated job performance. They also examined the moderating influence of psychological capital in the politics–outcomes relationships. Results provided good support for the proposed hypotheses. While perceived organizational politics was associated with all outcomes, psychological capital had a significant relationship with job satisfaction and supervisor-rated performance only. As hypothesized, the negative relationship of perceived organizational politics with job satisfaction and supervisor-rated performance was weaker when psychological capital was high. However, the result for turnover intentions was counter to expectations where the politics–turnover intention relationship was stronger when psychological capital was high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]