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The growth and productivity of different varieties of beetroot Beta vulgaris were examined in presence of urea, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, compost and salt during the field trial, and the chemical constitution of three different varieties, dark red, ruby queen and detroit-2 was identified quantitatively by spectrophotometer. Ruby queen shows maximum growth as compared to dark red and detroit-2. The application of urea, nitrogen, phosphate, potassium and compost reduces the amount of catalase and total anti- oxidant enzymic potensial while increasing the concentrations of proteins, lipids, and sugars, with high growth and yield. Maximum growth was observed in the presence of urea, while the application of salt inhibited growth in all three varieties. In the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and compost-treated plants, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium show more growth as compared to compost. Similarly, metabolic contents such as IAA, chlorophyll and phenolic, were found in high concentrations in urea, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and compost-treated plants as compared to salt-treated plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution, particularly particulate matter (PM2.5) levels, was a significant focus at the COP26 summit. Rampant production practices and changing lifestyles contribute to the issue globally. China's rapid urbanization and reliance on fossil fuels significantly threaten global health sustainability. This study aims to evaluate China's environmental agenda and offer policy recommendations for achieving a green and clean environment. To accomplish this, the study assesses the crucial factors contributing to China's air pollution levels, focusing specifically on fine PM2.5 from 1975 to 2020. By implementing the ARDL bounds testing approach, the study confirmed a non‐linear relationship between per capita income and PM2.5, demonstrating an inverted U‐shaped curve with a turning point observed at a per capita income level of US$3030 in the short run. Furthermore, a positive correlation between these variables was detected in the long run. The study also revealed that rapid urbanization initially leads to increased PM2.5 concentrations, whereas it has a decreasing effect in the long term. To progress towards sustainable production and consumption, China has embraced efficient environmental technologies and increasing clean energy sources in its production mix. Leveraging these strategies, the country strives to achieve its decarbonization agenda and ensure a cleaner future. By conducting an ex ante analysis, this study identified ecological technologies, renewable energy demand and oil resource rents as critical influencers on China's air pollution levels over the next decade. The findings underscore the pressing need to embrace alternative energy sources, eco‐friendly technologies and resource conservation to tackle air pollution effectively and accomplish China's decarbonization objectives. It is imperative to prioritize adopting sustainable practices, ensuring a cleaner environment for current and future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-harvest sprouting in wheat is the germination of seeds within the spikes when rains occur after or during grain ripening, which occurs commonly in the barani tract of Pakistan. Therefore, 10 cultivars and five advanced lines of spring bread wheat were evaluated for pre-harvest sprouting resistance. After natural rainfall, seeds were immediately collected from the wet spikes and tested for germinating ability. Three different germination tests were applied to hand-threshed seed: (1) spikes threshed on the day of sampling and germination tested immediately, (2) spikes threshed on the day of sampling and germination tested 1 week later, and (3) spikes threshed 1 week after sampling and germination test immediately after threshing. Seeds and spikes kept for 1 week were place on blotting paper at room temperature. Cultivars BARS-09, 09FJ17, Doukkala-12, NARC-09 and Ouassou-20 exhibited higher sprouting resistance while other genotypes were susceptible to pre-harvest sprouting in each of the three tests. A diallel crossing was conducted with six susceptible and two resistant genotypes to assess the genetic behavior of pre-harvest sprouting resistance. The combining ability (CA) demonstrated a higher proportion of additive genetic effects for sprouting resistance, because of higher variance of general and specific CA for both parameters under study. Doukkala-12 and BARS-09 showed increased pre-harvest sprouting resistance in their F1 descendants.

Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) localisation refers to the problem of determining the position of each of the agents in a WSN using noisy measurement information. In many cases, such as in distance and bearing‐based localisation, the measurement model is a non‐linear function of the agents' positions, leading to pairwise interconnections between the agents. As the optimal solution for the WSN localisation problem is known to be computationally expensive in these cases, an efficient approximation is desired. The authors show that the inherent sparsity in this problem can be exploited to greatly reduce the computational effort of using an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) for large‐scale WSN localisation. In the proposed method, which the authors call the L‐Banded Extended Kalman Filter (LB‐EKF), the measurement information matrix is converted into a banded matrix by relabelling (permuting the order of) the vertices of the graph. Using a combination of theoretical analysis and numerical simulations, it is shown that typical WSN configurations (which can be modelled as random geometric graphs) can be localised in a scalable manner using the proposed LB‐EKF approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: Introduction: HIV diagnosis is the necessary first step towards HIV care initiation, yet many persons living with HIV (PLWH) remain undiagnosed. Employing multiple HIV testing strategies in tandem could increase HIV detection and promote linkage to care. We aimed to assess an intervention to improve HIV detection within socio‐sexual networks of PLWH in two sexually transmitted infections (STI) clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate an intervention combining acute HIV infection (AHI) screening, contract partner notification and social contact referral versus the Malawian standard of care: serial rapid serological HIV tests and passive partner referral. Enrolment occurred between 2015 and 2019. HIV‐seropositive persons (two positive rapid tests) were randomized to the trial arms and HIV‐seronegative (one negative rapid test) and ‐serodiscordant (one positive test followed by a negative confirmatory test) persons were screened for AHI with HIV RNA testing. Those found to have AHI were offered enrolment into the intervention arm. Our primary outcome of interest was the number of new HIV diagnoses made per index participant within participants’ sexual and social networks. We also calculated total persons, sexual partners and PLWH (including those previously diagnosed) referred per index participant. Results: A total of 1230 HIV‐seropositive persons were randomized to the control arm, and 561 to the intervention arm. Another 12,713 HIV‐seronegative or ‐serodiscordant persons underwent AHI screening, resulting in 136 AHI cases, of whom 94 enrolled into the intervention arm. The intervention increased the number of new HIV diagnoses made per index participant versus the control (ratio: 1.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2 to 3.1). The intervention also increased the numbers of persons (ratio: 2.5; 95% CI: 2.0 to 3.2), sexual partners (ratio: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.4 to 2.0) and PLWH (ratio: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.7 to 3.2) referred per index participant. Conclusions: Combining three distinct HIV testing and referral strategies increased the detection of previously undiagnosed HIV infections within the socio‐sexual networks of PLWH seeking STI care. Combination HIV detection strategies that leverage AHI screening and socio‐sexual contact networks offer a novel and efficacious approach to increasing HIV status awareness., INTRODUCTION HIV diagnosis is the essential first step for people living with HIV (PLWH) to access HIV care, which can improve health outcomes and reduce the potential for onward transmission [...]

The objective of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) practices concerning their effect on attaining Sustainable Competitive Advantage, considering the mediating influence of Green Organizational Culture. The theoretical foundation of the study has been constructed by incorporating perspectives from resource-based views and system theories. This survey-based study followed a quota sampling technique and collected data from 634 managerial staff working at various levels of management in green certified manufacturing firms in Pakistan. The study applied SPSS software version 25 for descriptive statistics while Smart PLS software version 3 for inferential statistical analysis. The findings evidenced that Green Recruitment and Selection, Green Training and Development, and Green Compensation Management have not only positive and significant direct associations but also positive and significant indirect relationships via green organizational culture, with the sustainable competitive advantage of the organization. Since green-certified organisations are prepared to implement GHRM practises in their facilities, practitioners and managers are advised to incorporate GHRM practises into their daily business activities in order to achieve long-term competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of "digital supply chain" (DSC) pertains to the utilization of up-to-date information systems and advanced technologies in order to augment the amalgamation and flexibility of a company's supply chain. This research examines the effect of DSC strategy on operational performance (OP). Employees working in the pharmaceutical sector of KP, Pakistan, provided their input for the data collection using quota sampling techniques. A comprehensive analysis of precisely 237 observations has been conducted utilizing partial least square structural equation modeling with the aid of the software SmartPLS 3.0. The findings indicate that DSC significantly and positively affect operational performance (β=0.58) and its constituent dimensions (cost reduction, productivity and quality performance). The results imply that digitization of supply chain adds to operational performance and managers shall adopt digitization of supply chain activities. Organizations that have digitalize their supply chain processes or intends to do so shall benefit from the findings regarding positive affect of DSC on operation performance. The discoveries also add to the academic body of knowledge on the DSC and fill a research gap by providing evidence that operational performance can be enhanced through digitization of supply chain activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]