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Climate change poses a significant threat to the lives and livelihoods of the local communities in high mountain regions. This study examines the perception of climate change and its impact on the lives and livelihoods of high mountain communities in Gilgit-Baltistan. Empirical evidence was gathered through four focused group discussions and thirty in-depth interviews with the local communities in Darkut and Shishkat areas. This study found that the local communities perceive a noticeable change in temperature patterns in terms of an increase in average temperatures and shorter winters. Such changes lead to the melting of glaciers and subsequently frequent floods during summer. The communities argue that a decrease in snowfall and alterations in the timing of snowfall directly affect the region's water supply. These changes impact the region's key livelihood activities, such as livestock rearing and agriculture, leading to reduced productivity, and an increased reliance on external food sources. This study emphasizes the urgent need for community-based adaptation strategies and support for climate-resilient livelihoods in these regions. It underscores the importance of incorporating the perspectives and experiences of high mountain communities when formulating policies and strategies to address the multifaceted impacts of climate change in mountainous areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of financial inclusion (FI), agricultural innovation (AI), trade (TR), and forest rent (FR) on carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), economic growth (Y), and ecological footprint (EFP) for Pakistan from 1970 to 2017 are examined using symmetric and asymmetric cointegration approaches. These links are investigated using linear and non-linear autoregressive distributive lag (NARDL) techniques. In contrast to the asymmetry results, the symmetric results revealed no cointegration among the variables over the long run. Moreover, asymmetry results from the Y-model indicated that a positive shock in AI significantly affects Y over the long run while raising it over the short term. Furthermore, CO2 rises in the wake of positive shocks like AI, Y, and FR but falls in the wake of adverse shocks. A negative shock to FI raises CO2 temporarily, whereas a negative shock to FR causes CO2 emissions to fall over time. According to the EFP-model, long-term EFP is decreased by both positive shocks to AI and adverse shocks to FR with one-period lags. On the other hand, positive shocks to FI and FR cause the short-term EFP to rise. In addition to a bidirectional causal relationship between Y, EFP, and FI, we found a one-way causative relationship between Y, FR, AI, CO2, and EFP. The FMOLS estimator also supports NARDL estimations. The key recommendations to help Pakistan keep its environment and economy are to enhance green mechanization in agriculture, allocate adequate research and development funds, and initiate integrated environmental and economic growth policies by relevant institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of a compartmental deterministic mathematical model for the dynamics of Japanese encephalitis transmission that includes a saturated incidence rate and saturated treatment function is presented in the manuscript. The saturation therapy feature should be included in areas with low resources. We assume that the pig population is diseased and logistically expanding in the environment and include the logistic differential equation in the model along with the pig carrying capacity. The models different equilibria are thoroughly studied and analyzed for their stability. The model's basic reproduction number. 4. is computed. The model shows the occurrence of backw-ard bifurcation for go less than one. suggesting that when go less than one is not entirely sufficient for eradicating the disease for the population. The basic reproduction number's key parameters' sensitivity analysis is presented. The basic reproduction number 96 can change significantly with even a minor modification in any of these crucial parameters. Using real data. we used curve fitting through using the least squares method. contour plots. and box plots to show the number of infected patients in two different Indian states. In order to support our analytical findings. numerical simulation is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the contamination level and risk associated with toxic trace elements in springs’ water from Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Toxic trace elements, including Hg, As, and Zn, were analyzed by metalyzer, HM 2000 serial no. MY-011-006, while elements such as Cr, Al, B, Ni, Cu, Mn, and Fe were analyzed using Metalometer HM 2000 serial no. MM005-007, the United Kingdom. The mean concentrations of TTEs in water samples from Skardu were ordered as, Mn < Cu < Fe < Zn < Al < Cr < As < Ni < Hg, in Gilgit, Mn < Cu < Zn < Ni < B < Cr < Fe < As < Hg, in Ghizer Cu < Mn < Zn < Ni < Cr < Fe < As < Hg, while in Nagar the concentration of TTEs in water samples were ordered as Cu < Mn < Fe < Ni < Al < Cr < Zn < As < Hg. Results obtained from this study showed that the concentrations of As, Hg, Ni, Cr, Al, and Mn in some water samples were higher than the limits recommended by WHO and Pak-NDWQS. However, the chronic daily intake indices (CDIs) and health risk index (HRI) in all samples were found below the US-EPA standards. The correlation analysis revealed a positive association among different elements, which revealed that the sources of TTES in water samples were mainly geological strata and anthropogenic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of topical tacrolimus (TCL) 0.03% dermatological ointment in the treatment of patients with Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis. Study Design: Retrospective Review. Setting: Eye OPD of Qazi Hussain Ahmad Medical Complex, Nowshera. Period: Jan 2019 to Jan 2021. Material & Methods: Twelve patients with Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis (TSPK) were included retrospectively by reviewing their medical records. Eight patients were unresponsive to topical steroids and/or lubricants. Diagnosis was made based on the history and clinical findings. All patients were treated with topical tacrolimus 0.03% dermatological ointment twice a day. We took the following subjective features for assessment i.e. watering of eyes and light sensitivity, while for objective features reduction in the no. of epithelial keratitis, healing of keratitis, surface leveling of the lesion and reduced corneal staining with fluorescein. Results: Out of total 12 patients, 4 were male and 8 females with a mean age of 21 ± 9.42 years. All were having bilateral involvement. Duration of therapy ranged from 02 to 40 weeks (mean 08 weeks). All patients improved symptomatically with resolution of watering of eyes and light sensitivity, while in ocular signs we noted improvement in corneal lesions. The efficacy of therapy was observed 3 days, post application among all patients. No, side effects reported in any of our patients treated with topical TCL dermatological ointment. Conclusion: The safety and efficacy of topical tacrolimus 0.03% dermatological ointment has been observed in patients with Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis who were refractory to conventional therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of topical tacrolimus (TCL) 0.03% dermatological ointment in the treatment of patients with Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis. Study Design: Retrospective Review. Setting: Eye OPD of Qazi Hussain Ahmad Medical Complex, Nowshera. Period: Jan 2019 to Jan 2021. Material & Methods: Twelve patients with Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis (TSPK) were included retrospectively by reviewing their medical records. Eight patients were unresponsive to topical steroids and/or lubricants. Diagnosis was made based on the history and clinical findings. All patients were treated with topical tacrolimus 0.03% dermatological ointment twice a day. We took the following subjective features for assessment i.e. watering of eyes and light sensitivity, while for objective features reduction in the no. of epithelial keratitis, healing of keratitis, surface leveling of the lesion and reduced corneal staining with fluorescein. Results: Out of total 12 patients, 4 were male and 8 females with a mean age of 21 ± 9.42 years. All were having bilateral involvement. Duration of therapy ranged from 02 to 40 weeks (mean 08 weeks). All patients improved symptomatically with resolution of watering of eyes and light sensitivity, while in ocular signs we noted improvement in corneal lesions. The efficacy of therapy was observed 3 days, post application among all patients. No, side effects reported in any of our patients treated with topical TCL dermatological ointment. Conclusion: The safety and efficacy of topical tacrolimus 0.03% dermatological ointment has been observed in patients with Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis who were refractory to conventional therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the Internet of Things (IoT), gadgets of all shapes and sizes may exchange data by connecting to the internet. Any item that a child might play with, your car's stereo, or a household appliance could be considered an example. Even at the end of the twentieth century, it wasn't a distinct concept, but over the last two decades, it has become an integral part of our life. Consumers' ability to change and adapt at breakneck speed is a major contributing factor. Sharing a large volume of data amongst various IoT devices has the unpleasant side effect of making these devices a target for hackers and other unethical users who seek to exploit these devices' vulnerabilities. Furthermore, if this data is stolen or misused by hackers, it might have a devastating effect on the entire firm that owns it. Models, schemes, and implementation features of IoT alternate technologies and devices are all brought together in this tutorial. Confidentiality, authentication, data integrity, and service availability are all addressed in terms of hardware implementation efficiency. Modern attacks and hazards, as well as defenses against them, are taken into account. We'll talk about how cryptography research can help address the new security threats posed by IoT devices. The design of IOT must take safety into account from the outset. The Internet of Things (IOT) has three notable characteristics: general perception, dependable transmission, and intelligent processing. A hybrid encryption technique has been devised in this work in order to mitigate security risks while increasing encryption speed and reducing computing complexity. Information integrity, confidentiality, and non-repudiation in data sharing are the goals of this hybrid algorithm for IOT. We have tested our proposed method against RSA and AES and found that our hybrid technique outperforms the rest of the existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]