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For toxicity research, a total of 100 fertilized nonincubated eggs were used for this study. There were two trials in this experiment which were further divided into 2 phases based on a different days of sewage water treatment and observation days. In each trial, 50 eggs were used and divided into 5 groups. Group A, B, and C were treated with three different concentrations of pure and diluted sewage water (100%, 70%, and 30%), respectively. Control group D was given 0.3 ml saline solution (0.9% NaCl) and group E was uninjected. Different parameters such as the embryo's body weight, body length, forelimb length, hindlimb length, and head diameter were determined. In trial 1, eggs were treated with sewage water on 7th day of incubation and opened on 8th day (phase I) and 9th day (phase II). When the trial 1 (phase I) findings were compared to the control groups, it was observed that body weight, body length, forelimb length, and hindlimb length were highly statistically significant differences (p < 0.01), but the head diameter was not significant (p > 0.05). Phase II result showed embryo's head diameter was a highly statistically significant difference (p < 0.01), whereas forelimb length was significant (p < 0.05), and body weight, body length, and hindlimb length were nonsignificant (p > 0.05). In trial 2, eggs were treated with sewage water on 14th day of incubation and opened on 15th day (phase I) and 16th day (phase II). Results of 15th day showed a highly statistically significant (p < 0.01) difference in hindlimb length, while body weight, body length, forelimb length, and head diameter were nonsignificant (p > 0.05). Phase II of trial 2 showed that on 16th day, body weight, body length, forelimb length, hindlimb length, and head diameter showed a nonsignificant (p > 0.05) difference between experimental and control groups. Embryos were observed to be deforming on the 9th day (after 48 hours of exposure to sewage water). Other phases showed no signs of deformation. Except on 8th day of incubation, dose-related mortalities were present in experimental groups, while the control group showed no mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AI is playing a disruptive role in many industrial sectors and also in the banking industry. The purpose of this research study was to empirically test consumer willingness to use AI-powered financial investment robo-advisors. Analysis of data from 500 survey responses collected from m-banking users performed using Smart Pls showed that there was clear intention on the part of m-banking consumers in Pakistan to use AI-powered financial investment robo-advisors. The results reinforce the findings of earlier studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The underlying study focuses on investigating that if the impact of taxpayer perceptions have on tax compliance with moderating impact of adopting of etax system in Pakistan where Fairness perception, tax knowledge and tax complexity are taken as independent variables, implementation of e-tax system as a moderating variable and tax compliance as dependent variable. This research follows deductive approach. The data for the research is collected with the help of a self-administered questionnaire. Sample of the study is 163 respondents selected through convenience sampling technique. SPPS has employed for data analysis. To know the prelateship among the variables, multiple regression technique has been applied on the data. The outcomes suggest that fairness perceptions and tax compliance have direct relationship. The findings of the study suggest that the moderation relationship between the variable named adoption of e-tax system and tax perceptions and tax compliance is insignificant. Besides this, tax knowledge and tax complexity does not have a significant positive impact on tax compliance in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demand for poultry meat is rising in low- and middle-countries, driving the expansion of large commercial farms where antimicrobials are used as surrogates for hygiene, good nutrition. This routine use of antimicrobials in animal production facilitates the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Despite potentially serious consequences for the animal industry, few studies have documented trends in antimicrobial use (AMU) at the farm-level in low- and middle-income countries. The objective of this study was to estimate AMU in a broiler chicken farm in Pakistan over a five-year period and to extrapolate national AMU in commercial broiler farming. Between 2013 and 2017, we monitored AMU in 30 flocks from a commercial broiler farm in Punjab, the most populous province of Pakistan. The amount of antimicrobials administered was calculated in milligram/population unit of the final flock weight (mg/fPU) and in used daily dose (UDD). The annual on-farm antimicrobial use was 250.84 mg of active ingredient per kilogram of the final flock weight. This consumption intensity exceeds the amount of antimicrobial used per kilogram of chicken of all countries in the world except China. Measured in mg per kg of final flock weight or population unit (fPU), medically important drugs such as colistin (31.39 mg/fPU), tylosin (41.71 mg/fPU), doxycycline (81.81 mg/fPU), and enrofloxacin (26.19 mg/fPU) were the most frequently used antimicrobials for prophylactic or therapeutic use. Lincomycin was the most frequently used antimicrobial used in-feed (29.09 mg/fPU). Our findings suggest that the annual consumption of antimicrobials in the broiler sector in Pakistan could be as high as 568 tons. This alarmingly high consumption estimate is the first baseline study on antimicrobial use in animals in Pakistan. Our findings call for immediate actions to reduce antimicrobial use in Pakistan, and countries with comparable farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate blockchain technology for agricultural supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic. Benefits and solutions are identified for the smooth conduction of agricultural supply chains during COVID-19 using blockchain. This study uses interviews with agricultural companies operating in Pakistan. The findings discover the seven most commonly shared benefits of applying blockchain technology, four major challenges, and promising solutions. About 100% of the respondents mentioned blockchain as a solution for tracking the shipment during COVID-19, data retrieval and data management, product and transaction frauds, and an Inflexible international supply chain. Roughly 75% of the respondents mentioned the challenge of lack of data retrieval and data management and the Inflexible international supply chain in COVID-19 besides their solutions. This study can expand existing knowledge related to agricultural supply chains. The experiences shared in this study can serve as lessons for practitioners to adopt the blockchain technology for performing agricultural supply chain during pandemic situations such as COVID-19. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Nutritional composition of edible crab species from coasts of Pakistan analyzed. • Vitamins, minerals and amino acids were quantified in these crabs. • Protein contents were higher in S. serrata than other crab species. • These crab species are rich in nutrients (amino acids, vitamins and minerals). The commercially important edible crab species from Pakistani waters are Portunus pelagicus, Portunus sanguinolentus, Scylla serrata and Charybdis feriatus. The present study has been designed to investigate the nutritional composition of edible crab species including proximate composition, vitamins, minerals and amino acids content. Among all the species, fat content were found at low levels (0.25 %–1.86 %), however, the protein content was higher in hard shell crab (S. serrata), i.e. 23.3 %, than those in soft shell crabs (P. pelagicus, P. sanguinolentus and C. feriatus), 16.4 %, 14.2 % and 15.1 %, respectively. Energy value was high in S. serrata (107 kcals/100 g) whereas C. feriatus recorded the lowest value (65.5 kcals/100 g). In terms of amino acid profiling a total of eighteen amino acids were detected from which arginine (19.0 mg/100 g in S. serrata and 9.98 mg/100 g in P. sanguinolentus) and lysine (0.15–6.53 mg/100 g) have shown the highest values with variations in all crab samples. Of the seven minerals examined, calcium was the highest ranging between 292 ppm and 513 ppm followed by zinc (15.7 ppm–47.4 ppm) in all four crab species. Among the vitamins, niacin (Vit B3) recorded the highest value ranging between 16.9 mg/100 g and 49.2 mg/100 g followed by thiamine (Vit B1) and ascorbic acid (Vit C) in all crab samples. The results showed that the crabs contained appreciable amounts of nutrients. The present study findings revealed that the mud crab S. serrata has higher values of nutrients in terms of protein, amino acids, vitamins and minerals than other species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rotavirus A (RVA) is a leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in children worldwide, and vaccination has become a pivotal strategy to reduce the associated morbidity and mortality. This study presents a molecular characterization of RVA genotypes circulating among vaccinated children in Pakistan during the year 2019. A total of 510 stool samples were collected from children of up to five years of age presenting with acute gastroenteritis symptoms in Rawalpindi, Islamabad regions of Pakistan. The RVA antigen was detected using ELISA on these samples. RVA G/P genotyping was performed on ELISA positive samples using Multiplex semi-nested reverse transcriptase PCR. RVA was found in 130 fecal samples, with an overall prevalence of 25.4 %. G9P[8] (20 %) is the most prevalent genotype, followed by G12P[6] (17 %), G3P[8] (14 %), G1P[8] (12 %), G2P[4] (10 %), G12P[8] (7 %), G9P[6] (7 %), G3P[6] (6 %), G3P[4] (4 %) and G1P[6] (3 %) respectively. There is a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) found in the group age (in months) of RVA gastroenteritis cases as detected by RT-PCR. The highest number of positive cases was found in the age range from 0 to 6 months, followed by 7–12 months, 13–24 months, and 25–60 months, respectively. Dehydration is statistically significantly associated (p˂ 0.05) in RVA gastroenteritis cases compared to those who tested negative. This study emphasizes the significance of maintaining a continuous surveillance system and conducting genomic analysis of RVA genotypes in children upto the age of 5 years. This is essential for tracking the circulation of RVA genotypes. The results from this research enhance our comprehension of how RVA genotypes are changing over time in Pakistan, underscoring the ongoing necessity for improving vaccine coverage and effectiveness. This, in turn, can help reduce the impact of RVA-related illnesses in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fourth Industrial Revolution begins, and policies are being formulated by economies as well as efforts are being made to meet the needs of the current times. Among other technologies which are part of Fourth Industrial Revolution, big open data is also the part of Pakistan's digital policy framework. Scholarship is available to explore and examine the determinants of BOD diffusion and adoption, a little literature is available to understand big open data as policy innovation and its diffusion. Therefore, this study drew on Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory and its application to public policy innovation research to examine patterns of BOD policy innovation diffusion at government and public bodies' level in Pakistan. These patterns are based on policy declaration timing by the governments, policy adoption timing, development of technological applications, and proactively released datasets statistics in public bodies. An Event History Analysis was carried out to examine BOD policy innovation diffusion patterns. Results showed that Federal government is the innovator for the policy innovation diffusion across different governments and subsequent public bodies. It was also found that efficacy ranking of public bodies is quite low in terms of developing BOD technological platforms and proactive release of datasets in large quantities. Therefore, government and policy-makers should focus on effective implementation of big open data policy innovation in Pakistan to equip with 21st century needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was designed to investigate pathological effects of fowl adenovirus in broilers exposed to aflatoxin B 1 . Fowl Adenovirus-4 (FAdV-4) infection is remerging in all types of poultry birds in Pakistan. Poultry feed contamination with mycotoxin (aflatoxin) is another important global issue. A total of 125-day old broiler birds were divided into six equal groups. Group A served as control. B and C groups were administered with aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ) 100 and 200 μg/kg feed. Group D was infected with FAdV-4, while groups E and F administered with both AFB 1 (100 & 200 μg/kg) along with FAdV-4. These birds were monitored for clinical signs and mortality. Feed intake, body weight (BW), relative organ weights and gross & histopathological lesions were recorded. The highest mortality was observed in group F (FAdV-4 + AFB 1 200 μg/kg feed) and the lowest mortality was observed in group B (AFB 1 100 μg/kg feed). Body weights of all the groups were significantly (p < 0.05) lower as compared with control group. Relative weight of liver and kidneys in groups E and F were significantly higher as compared with control. Grossly, liver was swollen, anemic with round margins in groups D, E and F. Kidneys were also swollen with whitish areas indicating dead tissue. Microscopically intranuclear inclusion bodies were observed in group D-F. The hepatic parenchyma was also indicating necrotic changes along with vacuolar degeneration. In renal parenchyma, acute tubular necrosis was observed in groups C, E and F. It was concluded that AFB 1 intoxication lead to dose dependent changes in liver and kidneys. Severity of the changes was increased in interactive groups of AFB 1 with FAdV-4. Therefore, feed should be regularly monitored for AFB 1 levels and day old chicks for vertically transmitted FAdV-4 to prevent losses., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)