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Background: Suicide is a major public health concern and one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. People with an at-risk-mental-state (ARMS) for psychosis are more vulnerable to psychiatric co-morbidity and suicide, however, there are limited data from low-middle-income countries. The present study aimed to identify the prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation along with sociodemographic and clinical correlates of suicidal ideation in individuals with ARMS from Pakistan., Method: Participants between the age of 16 and 35 years who met the criteria for ARMS based on the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental State (CAARMS), were recruited from the community, general practitioner clinics and psychiatric units across Pakistan (n = 326). Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Social-Occupational-Functional-Assessment-Scale (SOFAS) were administered to participants., Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts in the sample at baseline were 91.1% (n = 297) and 61.0% (n = 199), respectively. There were significant mean differences between groups (mean difference [95% CI]; p-value) without suicidal ideation and with suicidal ideation on measures of MADRS (-5.47 [-7.14, -3.81]; p < .001), CAARMS non-bizarre ideas (-0.29 [-0.47, -0.11]; p = .002) and perceptual abnormalities (-0.23 [-0.41, -0.04]; p = .015)., Conclusion: These findings indicate that suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms are highly prevalent in individuals with ARMS in Pakistan. Given the pivotal developmental stages that ARMS presents, and the poor outcomes associated with co-morbid depression, there is an urgent need to prioritize the development of low-cost and scalable evidence-based interventions to address psychiatric comorbidity and suicidality in the ARMS population in Pakistan., (© 2023 The Authors. Early Intervention in Psychiatry published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

This case study examined how an Indigenous Kalasha participant in northern Pakistan makes sense of his multi-faceted identity. The interpretative phenomenological analysis method was used to analyze data from an in-depth, single person case study. Our selected participant was a 36-year-old male postgraduate student from an Indigenous marginalized tribe, which is an ethnic and religious minority group in the northern Hindukush mountain region of Pakistan. Results are presented in four superordinate themes: (1) Identity: admixture of a number of identities, (2) Changing culture and its psychological impact, (3) Cultural protective factors against psychological problems and (4) Mental health perspective. The findings explained the construct of "identity" in an indigenous way that takes varying forms ranging from admixture of identities (ethnic and national identities) to how globalization, transition, and adaptation processes have been disrupting the practice of Kalasha cultural traditions. The findings also revealed the factors deeply enrooted in Kalasha culture and traditions that have helped people maintain their psychological resilience and buffered against psychological problems. This paper is presented as an appropriate method for advancing psychological understanding of "cultural identity" and exploring the connections between the two constructs of "mental health" and "identity." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan is facing a huge energy crisis although the country has a surplus of renewable energy. Conventional energy sources are unable to meet the growing population's needs, and it is inevitable to add alternative energy resources such as wind farms to meet the future demand. The suitable site selection for the development of wind farms is usually based on location. However, other factors like environmental, social, and economic factors also play a vital role in the planning stage for the development of wind farms. This study aims to find the wind energy corridors within or near the un-electrified villages of Pakistan using geospatial technologies and the multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) technique. The resultant maps were compared with settlements situated in high-energy corridors for future ventures, energy generation, and electrification projects. High-resolution geographic information system (GIS) data and census data were used to identify completely electrified, half-electrified, partially electrified, and un-electrified villages and households linked with wind energy corridors and transmission lines. This research provided scientifically viable methodologies to efficiently manage energy resources, especially wind forms for future planning. The obtained result highlighted huge wind potential areas all over Pakistan especially in western Baluchistan, southern Sind, mountainous regions of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northern Indus Valley hills, and ridges in northern Punjab. It observed that the 265,736.5 km2 (8.89%) area of Pakistan lies in a fair to superb wind energy corridor. The Baluchistan province is the most resourceful province having 23,956 km2 (6.9%) area with fair to superb wind energy potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of climate change are unparalleled in magnitude, ranging from changing weather patterns that endanger food production to increasing sea levels that increase the likelihood of catastrophic flooding. Therefore, determining the extent of such variations on regional and local scales is imperative. We used monthly precipitation data from 25 meteorological stations in northern Pakistan (NP) to document the observed changes in seasonal and annual precipitation. The station density in the NP is small and unevenly distributed; therefore, ERA-5 reanalysis data were used to supplement the observed dataset to assess the spatial trends in NP. The non-parametric Mann–Kendall (MK), Sen's Slope estimator (SSE), and Sequential Mann–Kendall (SQMK) tests were performed to assess the trends. In addition, the wavelet analysis technique was used to determine the association of precipitation with various oceanic indices from 1960 to 2016. Results indicate that maximum precipitation was shown in the annual and summer seasons. In NP, annual, winter, spring, and summer precipitation declined, while an increase in autumn was observed at a rate of 0.43 mm/decade between 1989 and 2016. The spatial trends for observed and ERA-5 reanalysis datasets were almost similar in winter, spring, and autumn; however, some disagreement was observed in both datasets in the summer and annual precipitation trends in NP during 1960–2016. Between 1989 and 2016, summer and annual precipitation increased significantly in Region III. However, seasonal and annual precipitation decreased in NP between 1960 and 2016. Moreover, there were no prominent trends in annual precipitation until the mid-1980s, but an apparent increase from 1985 onwards. Annual precipitation increased in all elevations except at the 500–1000 m zone. The ENSO (El Niño–Southern Oscillation) shared notable interannual coherences among all indices above 16–64 months. Inter-decadal coherence with the ENSO, AO (Arctic Oscillation), and PDO (Pacific Decadal Oscillation) in NP for 128 months and above. Generally, AO, AMO (Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation), and NAO (North Atlantic Oscillation) exhibited less coherence with precipitation in NP. The regression of seasonal and annual precipitation revealed that winter and spring precipitation levels had higher linear regression with the AO and ENSO, respectively, while both the AO and ENSO also dominated at the annual scale. Similarly, the IOD and PDO indices had a higher influence in summer precipitation. The findings may help water resource managers and climate researchers develop a contingency plan for better water resource management policies in the face of changing climate change in Pakistan, particularly in NP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is the first of its kind being reported for an indigenous sheep breed of Pakistan with objectives to (a) assess the diagnostic efficacy of a human-based "serum hemolysis reference palette" for sheep serum, (b) deduce normal reference intervals (RIs) for hemoglobin (Hb) and bilirubin, and (c) devise a novel serum color chart for on-field estimation of Hb and bilirubin through color matching of sheep serum. Apparently, healthy Sipli sheep (n = 130) were bled twice attaining whole blood and serum samples (n = 260). The study animals were grouped on the basis of gender, that is, males (n = 51) and females (n = 79) and age, that is, G1 (up till 1 year) (n = 41), G2 (from 1 to 2 years) (n = 46), and G3 (from 2 to 3 years) (n = 43). None of the 260 serum samples of the sheep matched the color given on the human-based "hemolysis reference palette." The G1 animals revealed marked variation in their serum color. Hence, on the basis of RIs, the serum samples (n = 178) of adult sheep (G2 and G3) showing three main color bands were used in devising a novel serum Hb and bilirubin estimation chart for adult sheep serum. In conclusion, the human-based serum hemolysis palette is not valid for sheep serum. The RIs attained in the study could provide a yardstick for assessment of health in indigenous sheep breeds whereas the serum color chart may be of value in estimating Hb and bilirubin in a quick, reliable, and cheaper way for the resource-poor settings of the world., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

This study explores the spatio-temporal distribution and trends on monthly, seasonal, and annual scales of rainfall in the central Punjab districts of Punjab province in Pakistan by using observation and satellite data products. The daily observed data was acquired from the Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD) between 1983 and 2020, along with one reanalysis, namely the Climate Hazard Infrared Group Precipitation Station (CHIRPS) and one satellite-based daily Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information Using Artificial Neural Networks climate data record (PERSIANN-CDR) using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) web-based API platform to investigate the spatio-temporal fluctuations and inter-annual variability of rainfall in the study domain. Several statistical indices were employed to check the data similarity between observed and remotely sensed data products and applied to each district. Moreover, non-parametric techniques, i.e., Mann–Kendall (MK) and Sen's slope estimator were applied to measure the long-term spatio-temporal trends. Remotely sensed data products reveal 422.50 mm (CHIRPS) and 571.08 mm (PERSIANN-CDR) mean annual rainfall in central Punjab. Maximum mean rainfall was witnessed during the monsoon season (70.5%), followed by pre-monsoon (15.2%) and winter (10.2%). Monthly exploration divulges that maximum mean rainfall was noticed in July (26.5%), and the minimum was in November (0.84%). The district-wise rainfall estimation shows maximum rainfall in Sialkot (931.4 mm) and minimum in Pakpattan (289.2 mm). Phase-wise analysis of annual, seasonal, and monthly trends demonstrated a sharp decreasing trend in Phase-1, averaging 3.4 mm/decade and an increasing tendency in Phase-2, averaging 9.1 mm/decade. Maximum seasonal rainfall decreased in phase-1 and increased Phase-2 during monsoon season, averaging 2.1 and 4.7 mm/decade, whereas monthly investigation showed similar phase-wise tendencies in July (1.1 mm/decade) and August (2.3 mm/decade). In addition, as district-wise analyses of annual, seasonal, and monthly trends in the last four decades reveal, the maximum declined trend was in Sialkot (18.5 mm/decade), whereas other districts witnessed an overall increasing trend throughout the years. Out of them, Gujrat district experienced the maximum increasing trend in annual terns (50.81 mm/decade), and Faisalabad (25.45 mm/decade) witnessed this during the monsoon season. The uneven variability and trends have had a crucial imprint on the local environment, mainly in the primary activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brucellosis is a well-known and harmful zoonotic disease that poses a severe threat to public health and wild and dairy animals. Due to a lack of monitoring and awareness, disease incidence has increased. Therefore, this study was conducted for the first time to ascertain the status of seroprevalence of brucellosis, hematological, oxidative stress, and antioxidant enzymes in different breeds of cattle reared under tropical-desert conditions in Pakistan. This study comprised 570 cattle of different breeds. We recorded some epidemiological traits, including age and gender. The blood samples were obtained from all the cattle, screened with RBPT, and then confirmed by ELISA and PCR. The results recorded an overall 11.75%, 10.7%, and 9.64% prevalence of brucellosis based on RBPT, ELISA, and PCR. We obtained nonsignificant results in different age and sex groups of cattle. The results showed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower values of erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin quantity, hematocrit, lymphocytes, and monocytes in infected cases. The results showed that the total leukocyte and neutrophil cells significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased. The lipid peroxidation parameters (MDA- and NO-scavenging activity of erythrocyte) increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) in infected cattle, whereas significantly reduced antioxidant enzymes like SOD, RGSH, and CAT were. Similarly, significantly lower serum albumin levels and total serum proteins were recorded in infected cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vultures are among nature's most successful scavengers, providing tractable models for ecological, economic, and cultural studies. Asian vultures have undergone dramatic declines of 90–99% in the subcontinent due to consequences of poisoning drugs, thereby being at a high risk of extinction. In Pakistan, surveys conducted previously focused mostly the cause of decline and breeding strategies only. Genetic profiling of vultures was still unmapped that could play a particular role in conservation endeavors and let researchers to genetically label individuals of threatened or endangered species. In this study, we examined genetic diversity and molecular phylogeny of Oriental White-backed Vultures by analyzing mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences. Genetic polymorphism was detected among individuals, and, on that basis, phylogenetic analysis was conducted through Bayesian analysis of DNA sequences using MCMC. Using multiple sequence alignment, two mutations, transversion T>G and transition G>A, were observed at nucleotide positions 1 and 2, respectively. Similarly, T/C heterozygosity at two positions, 53 and 110, and one heterozygous T/G locus at 130 position were also observed. The reference sequence, along with other samples of V1, V6, V7 and V9, was placed into a clade, while V2, V5, V11, V3, V4 and V10 samples were grouped into a two clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was planned to detect Babesia ovis (B. ovis) in naturally infected sheep and goat herds of Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh and Jhang districts of Punjab, Pakistan through microscopy and molecular diagnostic techniques i.e., PCR and nPCR. For this purpose, a total of 892 blood samples were collected i.e., sheep (n=544), goats (n=348) in both seasons (summer + winter). Initially, the samples were screened via the blood film and the blood smear examinations revealed parasite merozoites as tear drop in pair identified as babesia. The overall prevalence in summer based upon microscopic analysis was 22.05% (60/272) in sheep and 16.05% (28/174) in goat, respectively. In winter the prevalence was 7.34% (20/272) and 4.59% (8/174) in sheep and goat, respectively. In summer the results based upon PCR were 29.7% (81/272) and 23.56% (41/174) and n-PCR were 31.98% (87/272) and 27.01% (47/174) in sheep and goats respectively. On the other hand, in winter results showed that 12.13% (33/272), 9.77% (17/174) and 13.60% (37/272), 13.21% (23/174) samples positive for B. ovis through PCR and nPCR respectively. The results have shown that sensitivity of NPCR is more as compared to conventional PCR. The product size of B. ovis through PCR and NPCR was 186 base pair (bp) and 549 bp. Furthermore, the prevalence based upon different risk factors i.e., age, sex, housing, floor system, presence or absence of ticks was determined. Statistical analysis of different risk factors indicated that, increased age, non-cemented floor, closed housing, weak body condition and heavy infestation of ticks increase the incidence of disease by many folds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying Alzheimer's disease with the fluctuating environmental, individual, and cultural factors in pertinence to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-5) requires information, awareness, and understanding of the disease. Studies have calibrated sociocultural factors to be imperative in the expression of functional symptomology of Alzheimer's disease. Pakistan as a sociocentric, predominantly Muslim country, calls for such efforts. The current research was conducted to study the functional symptomology and experiences of Alzheimer's disease. A qualitative approach was adopted in which in-depth interviews of three dyads of patients with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers (N = 6) were conducted. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was applied to acquire the thematic analysis of data. Results showed sociocentricism as a forefront factor. Cognition, behavior, and emotions were found to be functionally expressed by religion, unawareness, respect of older people, stigmatization, and isolation within family dynamics. The study could be an instigator for further culture-oriented assessment and management providing services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPWD) mentions the legal capability of mentally ill patient, which states that the state parties will make legislation to provide legal capacity to the persons with disability. Although Pakistan has signed the treaty, but the mental health laws of Pakistan are not in agreement on the legal capacity of a disabled person. This paper discusses the legal capability and Article 12 of CRPWD, to examine the possibilities under which the disabled person can utilize his/her legal rights. Second part demarcate the legal capacity and criminal liability. It is essential to mention that mental health patient in some cases cannot be charged for his criminal offence. A qualitative method of research is followed, which helped the researcher in the analysis of available data regarding legal capacity. It is observed that mental health laws of Pakistan need to be updated. The work recommends that article 12 of the CRPWD should be incorporated in the legislation regarding mental health patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are few evidence-based non-pharmacological interventions adapted for people with dementia (PwD) in lower- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Thus, there is value in culturally adapting existing interventions from other settings. One such intervention for PwD involves hearing rehabilitation, which may improve dementia-related outcomes. Objective: To culturally adapt and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a multi-faceted hearing support intervention to enhance quality of life in PwD for a LMIC setting, Pakistan. Design: This was a study in three phases: (1) training and capacity building to deliver the study, including Patient and Public Involvement (PPI); (2) cultural adaptation of the intervention; and (3) delivery of a single-group feasibility study with a pre-test post-test design. Setting: Home-based intervention, in two cities of Pakistan. Participants: Adults aged ≥ 60 with mild-moderate dementia and uncorrected or partially corrected hearing impairment, and their study partners (n = 14). Intervention: An adapted hearing support intervention (HSI) comprising a full assessment of hearing function, fitting of hearing aids, and home-based support from a "hearing support practitioner." Outcomes: Ratings of the feasibility of the study procedures, and acceptability/tolerability of the adapted intervention were ascertained through questionnaires, participant diaries, therapist logbooks and semi-structured interviews. A signal of effectiveness of the intervention was also explored using a battery of dementia-related outcome measures. Results: Following cultural adaptation and capacity building for study conduct and delivery, we successfully implemented all intervention components in most participants, which were well-received and enacted by participant dyads. Acceptability (i.e., understanding, motivation, sense of achievement) and tolerability (i.e., effort, fatigue) ratings and safety of the intervention were within a priori target ranges. Recruitment and retention targets required improvement, due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, as well as the lack of a clear clinical diagnostic pathway for dementia in both sites. Areas for future modification were clearly identified, including: the assessment/delivery logistics circuit; procedures for arranging visits; communication among referring clinicians and the study team. Conclusion: This is the first study in a LMIC of sensory enhancement to improve dementia outcomes. Positive feasibility, acceptability and tolerability findings suggest that a full-scale effectiveness trial, with certain modifications is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

News is the foundation of the media. The main function of news is to update the people and based on that they make decisions. Thus, the public needs to know about what news is. What are its functions? What is the credibility of news sources and the medium it is circulated? The public can get an insight into the above questions through news literacy. News media literacy is a specific part of media literacy. In this way, the purpose of this is to assess the news media literacy level of the students and their knowledge about the production of news media content. The researchers used a cross-sectional survey to collect data from purposively selected students of three leading public sector universities of Sindh, province of Pakistan. The findings exhibited that students at the public sector universities in Sindh province of Pakistan are literate about news and they know about contribution. The contributed content for media organizations particularly for traditional media in the content genres like articles, features, and writing letters to the editors and contributed for social media in the form of texts, photos, audio, and video clips as well. The studies related to media literacy should be conducted in other universities of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The waste stream of obsolete electronic equipment grows exponentially, creating a worldwide pollution and resource problem. Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) comprises a heterogeneous mix of glass, plastics (including flame retardants and other additives), metals (including rare Earth elements), and metalloids. The e-waste issue is complex and multi-faceted. In examining the different aspects of e-waste, informal recycling in developing countries has been identified as a primary concern, due to widespread illegal shipments; weak environmental, as well as health and safety, regulations; lack of technology; and inadequate waste treatment structure. For example, Nigeria, Ghana, India, Pakistan, and China have all been identified as hotspots for the disposal of e-waste. This article presents a critical examination on the chemical nature of e-waste and the resulting environmental impacts on, for example, microbial biodiversity, flora, and fauna in e-waste recycling sites around the world. It highlights the different types of risk assessment approaches required when evaluating the ecological impact of e-waste. Additionally, it presents examples of chemistry playing a role in potential solutions. The information presented here will be informative to relevant stakeholders seeking to devise integrated management strategies to tackle this global environmental concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A research study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (bTB); detection of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) infection in lactating indigenous cattle/buffaloes raised on different commercial dairy farms and exposing the hazards linked with milk-born tuberculosis infection in the area where unpasteurized milk is normally used in the central zone of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. A total of 1225 cattle and 1175 buffaloes of more than one year were studied for the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis. A total of 1608 milk samples (793 from cattle and 815 from buffaloes) were collected from already PPD (purified protein derivatives) tested lactating animals aseptically. The data obtained were finally analyzed statistically using chi squared test. The Mycobacterium was identified through ZN staining, culture and PCR. Out of 1608 milk samples, 60 (3.73%) were found positive for acid fast bacteria through ZN staining whereas the prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis was confirmed in 65 (4.04%) and 85 (5.29%) isolates through culture and PCR respectively. The zoonotic spread of M. bovis infection was established in the study area. The data determines that animal food products in Pakistan are common reservoirs of mycobacteria and may pose great risk to the public. Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is found one of the neglected zoonotic disease (NZD) caused by Mycobacterium bovis with public health significance and appear as a life threatening infection at the human-animal-ecosystem interface in low-resource settings in the central zone of KP, Pakistan. The surveillance, prevention and control programs of this NZD in the KP province of Pakistan is necessary because of the continual unrestricted movement of infected animals and the use of unpasteurized milk which might result in an increased spread of bTB to human population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides contamination is a global environmental and public health concern due to their carcinogenic and highly toxic nature for all kind of living organisms including plants, animals and humans. Pakistan as an agriculture-based country, annually use a huge amount of organochlorine pesticides (OC) to control insect pests and different diseases of crops, resulting in environmental contaminations and their subsequent exposure to humans. Unfortunately, more than half million people are endured annually from OC pesticides and other agro-chemicals poisoning in Pakistan. However, recent data on the uses, contamination and exposure of pesticides in Pakistan are largely unavailable. This review summarizes the recent information and provides data on consumption and contamination of pesticides with a particular focus on their exposure to humans in Pakistan. Studies must be conducted to precisely determine the current use, contamination level and exposure of pesticides in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) are endemic to Pakistan. Though vaccine is being used to protect the birds from infection, outbreaks even in vaccinates are not uncommon throughout the year. Here, we assessed infectious potential of field prevailing NDV and IBV strains in broiler birds and determined a varying clinical exhibition and tissue tropism upon exposure to each of the virus either alone or in combination. At the age three week, the broiler chickens (n = 210) were divided into six groups (35 birds per group). These were group A (NDV-alone challenged), B (IBV-alone challenged), C (NDV+IBV-sequentially challenged), D (IBV+NDV-sequentially challenged), E (NDV and IBV-simultaneously challenged) and F (negative control). The birds were challenged with 10-5.76 and 10-6.03 EID50 dose of NDV and IBV, respectively. Tissue samples were taken from the infected birds after 2nd, 4th and 6th day post inoculation (dpi) for histopathology and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Clinical examination revealed a more severe form of respiratory infection in birds exposed with IBV, whereas, both respiratory and nervous signs were evident among birds infected with NDV. However, compared to birds infected with each of virus, severity of infection was much more in birds co-infected with both viruses. A variable degree of microscopic changes such as congestion and haemorrhages were observed in the trachea, lungs, proventriculus, caecal tonsil and kidney tissues. Evidenced through immunohistochemistry, the presence of antigen across various tissues of the birds indicated a wide spectrum of host tissue tropism for each of the virus where it was maximum in co-infected groups (C, D and E) than individual virus (groups A and B). The study concludes the currently prevailing strains are much pathogenic and that the presence of one virus facilitates further enhancement infection-associated tissue damage as a result of co-infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northern sub-Himalayan region is the primary source of water for a large part of Pakistan. Changes in precipitation and precipitation extremes in the area may have severe impacts on water security and hydrology of Pakistan. The objective of the study is to evaluate the spatial characteristics of the trends in annual and seasonal precipitation and precipitation extremes in Gilgit Baltistan, the northern administrative territory of Pakistan surrounded by Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and the Himalayan regions. The daily gridded rainfall data (1951–2007) of Asian Precipitation—Highly Resolved Observational Data Integration Towards Evaluation (APHRODITE) at 0.25° spatial resolution was used for evaluating the trends. The novelty of the present study is the application of the modified Mann-Kendall (MMK) trend for the evaluation of the significance of precipitation trends in order to differentiate the secular trends from climate natural variability. Besides, cumulative distribution function (CDF) plots of daily rainfall for the early (1951–1980) and later (1981–2007) periods were used to show the changes in extremes. The results revealed no significant change in annual precipitation but increase in summer rainfall in the range of 0.25 to 1.25 mm/year in the upper part and decrease in winter precipitation from 0 to − 0.25 mm/year in the west part of the region. Annual number of rainy days was also found to decrease in winter up to − 1.33 days/decade where the region receives a major portion of total precipitation. The decrease in winter rainfall and rainy days caused an increase in continuous dry days (around 0.27 days/year) and decrease in continuous wet days (up to − 0.26 days/year). Trend analysis and CDF plot revealed that though the numbers of rainy days are decreasing, the numbers of extreme rainfall days are increasing, which indicates rainfall become more erratic and intense in the region. The increases in both continuous dry days and extreme rainfall days indicate more droughts and floods may have adverse impacts on the hydrology of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Exploring proper phosphorus level and irrigation interval which enhances cotton production and lint quality was the basis of this research. A field study was conducted in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan during 2016 to assess the impact of irrigation interval and phosphorus rates on cotton grown under reduced tillage system (one tiller followed by one rotavator at 7–10 cm depth). Five irrigation intervals (7th, 10th, 13th, 16th and 19th day) and phosphorus levels (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg P2O5 ha-1) were kept in main- and subplots, respectively in RCBD with split plots arrangement with three replications. Results revealed that irrigation intervals significantly affected all the parameters such as plant height, sympodial branches, seed cotton yield, and quality-related traits such as fiber length, fiber strength, micronaire, and fiber uniformity. Frequent irrigation interval (7th day) produced taller plants (139 cm) and more sympodial branches (18.3) compared to less frequent irrigations (10-19th day). However, 19th day irrigation interval significantly improved seed cotton yield and fiber quality traits (fiber length, fiber strength, micronaire, and fiber uniformity). Likewise, phosphorus at 150 kg ha-1 significantly improved seed cotton yield (3794 kg ha-1) and ginning out turn (39.1%) compared to other phosphorus levels. In conclusion, P at 150 kg ha-1 with 19 days irrigation interval optimized yields and quality attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high percentage of camel handlers in Saudi Arabia are seropositive for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. We found that 12/100 camel handlers and their family members in Pakistan, a country with extensive camel MERS-CoV infection, were seropositive, indicating that MERS-CoV infection of these populations extends beyond the Arabian Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like other Asian countries, Pakistan is facing the issue of air pollution due to rapid urbanization, enormous transportation increases, and other related human activities. Moreover, continuously increasing emission sources have not only raised pollutant concentrations but also their types, thus damaging both human health and the environment. Faisalabad is the third largest megacity of Pakistan and its state of air quality is getting worse due to factors such as industrialization, high traffic volumes, and extensive fossil‐fuel‐burning activities. This review article aims to highlight the present status of air pollution in this city with special reference to particulate matter, elemental profiles, gaseous pollutants, organic–inorganic particulate contents as well as their sources. The concentration levels of these entities were also compared with other national and international cities, and related environmental standards. It is found that current levels of these pollutants are beyond safety limits as specified by various environment protection agencies and organizations. Several weak aspects and gaps are also identified along with suggestions for improvements of the present situation and directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is designed to calculate the newly introduced Gender Inequality Index for Pakistan according to the formula mentioned in technical notes of United Nations Development Report (2010) and then finding the impact of Social, Political and Economic Globalization on Gender Inequality Index. Time series data from 1980 to 2014 is used for Gender Inequality Index, Social, Political and Economic Globalization. Johnsons Co-integration technique is applied to investigate the impact of social, economic and political globalization on gender inequality index in Pakistan. The results of study show negative and significant relationship between economic globalization, social globalization and gender inequality index, while a negative but insignificant relationship is found between political globalization and gender inequality index. The results of the study are consistent with various theoretical and empirical studies. The policies related to globalization promotion are recommended to enrich the country with development through gender balances. To increase impact of political globalization, Pakistan needs to put more emphasis in following the spirit of treaties which target gender disparity of which she is the signatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global declining populations of Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis) in South Asia have arisen the alarming situation, which highlighted the need to explore the current status of this vulture in the region. Breeding biology and ecology of Himalayan Griffon (HG) is little known globally. This study assessed the habitat utilization of HG in Hattian and Muzaffarabad districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan with special reference to its relationship with breeding activities. Thus, four breeding colonies located at Sarli Sacha, Chumm, Talgran and Nardajian were monitored during 2005, 2007-2010 to assess the habitat preferences. The maximum (70%) nests were placed in open rocky area in Sarli Sacha and minimum (30%) in Talgran. Most (60-98%) of the nesting cliffs were facing towards the eastern aspect, except Talgran, which showed 70% southern exposure. Overall cliffs facing east direction showed positive correlation with number of active nests (r= 0.80) and occupied nests (r= 0.69). Positive correlation was also recorded between percentage of rocky area of cliffs with mean number of active nests (r= 0.79) and occupied nests (r= 0.89) in all study sites. There was negative correlation of percentage of cultivation (r= -0.70) and rural development (r= -0.95) with mean nesting site population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new country records of scarabaeoid beetles from Pakistan are reported for the first time based upon recent collecting: Dorcus curvidens Hope (Lucanidae: Dorcinae), Heteronychus annulatus Bates (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae), and Rhomborrhina microcephala Westwood (Scarbaeidae: Cetoniinae). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy-metal contamination in coastal areas poses a serious threat to aquatic life and public health due to their high toxicity and bio-accumulation potential. In the present study, levels of different heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, Co, Pb, Zn, and Mn), their spatial distribution, geochemical status, and enrichment indices (Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, Co, Pb, Zn) were investigated in the sediment samples from 18 coastal sites of Pakistan. The analyses of coastal sediments indicated the presence of heavy metals in order such as Cr > Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Mn > Co > Cd. Geo-accumulation index ( I), enrichment factor (EF), and contamination factor (CF) showed diverse range in heavy-metal enrichment site by site. Pollution load index (PLI) has shown that average pollution load along the entire coastal belt was not significant. Based on the mean effect range medium quotient, coastal sediments of Pakistan had 21 % probability of toxicity. The estimated sedimentary load of selected heavy metals was recorded in the range of 0.3-44.7 g/cm/year, while the depositional flux was in the range of 0.07-43.5 t/year. Heavy-metal inventories of 9.8 × 10-3.8 × 10 t were estimated in the coastal sediments of Pakistan. The enrichment and contamination factors (EF and CF) suggested significant influence of anthropogenic and industrial activities along the coastal belt of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Islamization of Pakistani law started at the end of the 1970S under the Stimulus of the executive and has continued in subsequent decades mainly through the judiciary. Increasingly, Pakistani High courts, and later on Islamic appellate courts, have applied uncodified šarīah principles to supplement and, at times, contradict codified law, particularly in the field of family matters and sexual crimes. On the basis of court records, the author reviews first, the religious sources referred to by the judges and, second, the implications of their religiously inspired "judicial activism", with a focus on the interaction between the Zinã Ordinance and the Muslim Family Law Ordinance. The author argues that the enforcement of Islamic laws has been traversed by two opposite tensions-towards systematization and complexity-and that a traditional discourse based on the nuances offiqh can either improve or worsen women's Status depending on the sources referred to by the courts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the transformation of concepts and practices about witchcraft and witch lore in Sonikot, Gilgit, Pakistan. The study was conducted through participant observation, indepth interviews with the locals, and focus group discussions among different age groups. Also, the beliefs regarding witchcraft aims to better understand the area and its people. Snowball sampling has been used for selection of people who had firsthand experience with a witch. It attempt to investigate the prevailing controversies regarding the identification of the issue on Chaikhandi tomb.

Influenced by Orientalist assumptions and Utilitarian ideals, and needing to enforce a system of adjudication that responded to their interests, the East India Company's officers selected among varied religious texts a set of norms and tried to apply them consistently. The decision to rely on texts rather than practice, the choice of certain precepts at the expense of others, and their rigid application ran counter to the traditional administration of justice, which had been fluid, contextual, and plural. They also distorted the meaning of Hanafi fiḳh, turning what had been an instrument of legitimation, a moral reference, and a source of social standing into a system of organized dispute settlement. The emphasis on religious textual sources and the attempt to use them as a basis for codification coincided with the idea, which gained ground in the nineteenth century among Muslim reformist movements, that political weakness could be countered by returning to a pristine scripturalist Islam, focused on its legal aspects and seen as a systematic doctrine devoid of ambiguities. These ideas can be also found in the Islamist thought that subsequently spread among urban reformist movements and in legal reforms adopted in Pakistan. A review of case studies, however, suggests that the flexibility and contextuality that characterized the enforcement of Islamic law in precolonial Islam is still to be found in legal practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control of animal and poultry diseases is one of the primary objectives of government livestock departments in Pakistan. Main emphasis is given to the prevention and control of transboundary animal diseases (TADs), i.e. rinderpest, foot and mouth disease (FMD), Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and avian influenza (AI) in the country. Recently (2007), the Office International des Epizooties has certified Pakistan as a rinderpest-free country but other TADs are still a threat to the livestock and poultry sectors in the country and the region at large. Keeping in view the significance of livestock and poultry industry for the livelihood of the farmers as well as the economy of the country, a network of diagnostic facilities has been established both at federal and provincial levels. The National Veterinary Laboratory (NVL) Islamabad has been designated as a referral laboratory for the diagnosis of rinderpest, FMD and PPR. Presence of these viruses is confirmed using ELISA. Diagnosis and monitoring of AI is the responsibility of National Reference Laboratory for Poultry Diseases Animal Health, Animal Sciences Institute, Islamabad where hemagglutination, agar-gel-precipitin test (AGPT), ELISA and PCR are employed to confirm the diseases. In each of the four provinces, the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI) plays a central role to investigate an outbreak and implement measures to contain infection. Besides VRIs, district diagnostic laboratories have also been established to provide basic diagnostic facilities to the farmers. Undiagnosed cases or samples collected from TADs are referred to either the concerned VRI or the NVL for further analysis. The Animal Sciences Institute (ASI) at the National Agricultural Research Centre and eight veterinary universities/faculties also play an important role in the development/improvement of new assays/biologics and dissemination of knowledge to other institutes in the country. The present status of TADs and recommendations for harmonizing the diagnostic tools for these diseases are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Our study estimated the seroprevalence of brucellosis in bovine herds and identified the important risk factors associated with the occurrence of the disease at livestock farms. A total of 220 sera from 46 bovine herds of district Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan, was collected and subjected to brucellosis screening by serology. It resulted in 58.7% herd-based and 22.7% individual animal-based seroprevalence. Age, herd size and previous history of abortion came out as associated risk factors. Strict biosecurity, personal protection, quarantine measures and routine screening are recommended at livestock-holdings/farms, whereas disease awareness and pasteurization of milk are recommended for the general population to prevent zoonosis. Bovine brucellosis is a contagious zoonotic disease that causes economic losses through abortion and infertility. A cross-sectional study was designed to determine the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of bovine brucellosis in district Gujranwala of Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 220 bovine sera (112 from buffaloes, 108 from cattle) from 46 unvaccinated herds were collected. Parallel testing by the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Indirect Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (I-ELISA) showed a 58.7% (27/46) herd-level and 22.7% (50/220) animal-level seroprevalence. Seroprevalence was higher (p < 0.001, OR = 7.62) in adult animals (37.2%) compared to younger animals (4.9%). A herd size of >10 animals (p = 0.021, OR = 7.83), less housing space (p = 0.037, OR = 6.39) and history of abortion at the farm (p = 0.023, OR = 5.6) were found as risk factors associated with the seropositivity of brucellosis. There was a substantial agreement between the RBPT and I-ELISA results (Cohen's kappa coefficient (κ) = 64.16, percent agreement = 89.5%). In conclusion, a relatively higher seroprevalence was found compared to the previous reports from the country. Standardization and validation of the advanced diagnostic tests would be needed. Biosecurity, personal protection, quarantine measures and routine screening of animals at the farm level and disease awareness programs and consumption of pasteurized milk in the human population will be helpful in preventing the transmission/zoonosis of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kalasha are a marginalized ethnic and religious minority group in northern Pakistan. The Kalasha minority is known for their divergent polytheistic beliefs, and represents the outliers of the collectively monotheistic Muslim population of Pakistan. This study aimed to explore the psychological resilience beliefs and lived experiences of the Kalasha and to identify cultural protective factors and indigenous beliefs that help them maintain psychological wellbeing and resilience. Seven semi-structured interviews and two focus-group discussions were conducted. The total sample consisted of 6 women and 8 men, aged 20–58 years (Mage = 36.29,SD = 12.58). The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis qualitative method was chosen. Study findings identified that factors contributing to the wellbeing, happiness and resilience enhancement beliefs of Kalasha included five main themes, all influenced by their unique spirituality: contentment, pride in social identity, tolerance, gender collaboration and gratitude. The study also revealed the Kalasha’s perception of their marginalization related to challenges and threats. The Kalasha emphasized bringing these resilience enhancement beliefs into practice, as a mean to buffer against challenges. In conclusion, this study revealed Kalasha’s wellbeing and resilience enhancement factors, which they believed in and practiced as an element of their indigenous culture and religion. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]